Yasmeen Raja, the Chairperson of Muslim Khawateen Markaz, a constituent of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), has appealed to the people to observe a complete shutdown on India's Republic Day (on Monday) in occupied Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service that call for observance of the black day has been given by the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani.
Yasmeen Raja in a statement in Srinagar said, "The international community is very serious about the resolution of Kashmir dispute and the United States new President, Barack Obama has given positive and healthy hints for resolving the dispute."
The APHC leader said that Obama knew that peace would continue to elude the world, in general, and South Asia, in particular, until Kashmir dispute is resolved. The people of Kashmir are eagerly looking forward for the day when the US President takes practical and effective steps for resolving this human issue, she added.
Meanwhile, the UK-based Kashmiris would also observe India's Republic Day as black day. This was announced in a meeting of the Advisory Council of Kashmir Centre London with its Executive Director, Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl in chair.
The meeting, while endorsing the APHC's decision decided to observe January 26 as black day and appealed to Kashmiris living in Britain to make the call a success. A demonstration will be held outside the Indian High Commission and a memorandum will also be handed over to the commission for the Indian Prime Minister, asking him to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with Kashmiris' aspirations.