MUZAFFARABAD: Around 200 people, mostly migrants from India-held Kashmir, took to the streets here on Friday in protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the disputed Himalayan region.

The protesters were holding aloft flags of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as well as banners and placards inscribed with slogans condemning Mr Modi’s visit and advocating Kashmiris’ right to freedom.

“Kashmiris want withdrawal of Indian troops from Jammu and Kashmir,” said a big banner while a placard read: “Mr Modi, Kashmir does not belong to you.”

After fiery speeches were delivered to mark the occasion, the protesters paraded through the AJK capital’s main thoroughfare amid sweltering heat.

“We want freedom, go Indian go back,” they shouted in unison.

They also torched an effigy of Mr Modi as well as India’s tricolour flag.

“We do not have any personal animosity with Mr Modi, but since his hands are stained with the blood of Muslims, we cannot expect any good from him,” said Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi, chief of the AJK chapter of Jamaatud Dawa.

Referring to an ongoing gunfight between Kashmiri fighters and Indian troops in Poonch, he said: “Mr Modi will take with him the gift of bodies of Indian soldiers.” “Unless you stop suppressing the Kashmiris, you will continue to receive such gifts,” Mr Alvi added.

Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, a leader of Pasban-i-Hurriyat, the organisation of refugees which had organised the demonstration, said Mr Modi had proved himself to be a “serious threat to world peace”.

“Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory and its freedom-seeking inhabitants cannot accept the visit of any aggressor to their soil,” he said.

He said India had turned the parts of Kashmir under its occupation into a military concentration camp, and there was no let up in its jingoism.

“Ahead of Mr Modi’s visit, the whole disputed region was turned into a large prison. People were restricted to their homes. This in itself is proof that Kashmir and Kashmiris do not belong to India,” he said.

Organisers had made arrangements for Syed Ali Geelani, an elderly Hurriyat leader, to address the protesters by phone from Srinagar, but his call dropped thrice due to communication problems.

Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion were Mushtaqul Islam, Mubarak Haider, Shaukat Javed Mir, Shaikh Manzoor, Muzammil Aslam and Chaudhry Feroz Deen.

Published in Dawn, July 5th , 2014