MUZAFFARABAD: The United Jihad Council (UJC), an alliance of over a dozen Kashmiri mujahideen groups, on Tuesday played down the recent imposition of governor’s rule in India-held Kashmir (IHK) as a “non-issue”, claiming that New Delhi had always directly run the occupied territory through its stooges and puppet governments.

It also condemned the murder of Dr Syed Shujaat Bukhari and brushed aside rumours that those who disagreed with the views or activities of the senior journalist were responsible for his death.

According to a press release, the conglomerate held an exclusive meeting with its chairman Syed Salahuddin where the latest situation in held Kashmir was discussed in detail.

“The imposition of governor’s rule and termination of the so-called elected government is insignificant and a non-issue for the people of [occupied] Jammu and Kashmir because every state government has always been subservient to New Delhi,” said the UJC chief, who is also supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, the largest and mainly indigenous constituent of the alliance.

He said that the so-called Ramazan ceasefire and talks offered by the Indian government were devoid of sincerity.

On May 16, India’s Home Ministry announced that the forces would not launch any operations in IHK during the holy month of Ramazan.

Two weeks later, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the government was ready to hold dialogue with the Hurriyat Conference leadership, if it came forward for talks.

However, the UJC chief said that both had turned out to be a “hoax” as there had been no let up in the killing spree by Indian troops during Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2018