SRINAGAR: The call to observe the Indian Republic Day on January 26 as a Black Day has resonated in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), as seen through posters displayed in various areas. The posters, attributed to different Hurriyat groups, encourage the people to join the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in marking the day as a solemn occasion.
India celebrates its Republic Day on January 26 to commemorate the implementation of its Constitution in 1950, defining the country as a secular state.
However, this concept is seen as contradictory to the Hindutva ideology of the current ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Narendra Modi, which is actively pursuing the transformation of India into a Hindu state.
The posters, prominently displayed on walls, pillars, and electricity poles in Srinagar and other areas of IIOJK, convey a strong message rejecting India’s illegal occupation. The content emphasizes that the observance of Republic Day in the region is deemed a cruel joke, urging the international community to recognize the persistent rejection of India’s oppressive rule by the people of Kashmir.
As part of the protest, the posters call on residents to hoist black flags on the rooftops of their houses, shops, and public spaces on January 26. This symbolic gesture aims to convey to the world that, for the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir, January 26 is not a Republic Day but a Black Day, symbolizing their struggle against Indian oppression.
Additionally, the posters circulating on social media platforms encourage the people to offer special prayers for the martyrs of Kashmir on the anniversaries of the tragic incidents that have occurred in the course of the struggle for self-determination. This collective expression of dissent underscores the ongoing resistance against India’s illegal occupation in IIOJK.
