Those arrested include PDK president, Kolathur Mani, who was leading the protest demonstration
Kashmir Ho Ya Kanyakumari; Hum Kya Chahte? Bharat Se Azadi!
Chennai, Aug 13: Over 100 activists from Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) and other like minded political parties were arrested Friday for holding a protest demonstration against the atrocities on the people of Kashmir and in support of the Kashmiri struggle for Azadi.
Those arrested include, PDK president, Kolathur Mani, who was leading the protest demonstration,Those arrested include, PDK president, Kolathur Mani, who was leading the protest demonstration, a statement from the Delhi Tamil Students Union said today.
All the detainees have been put under remand for 15 days, the statement said.
According to the statement the demonstrators placed the following four demands to the Indian govt:
1) India should stop its war on the Kashmiri people
2) AFSPA should be scrapped immediately
3) The Indian army should be withdrawn from Kashmir
4) Talks should be initiated on the rights of the Kashmiris to self-determination.
“As is known, the Indian govt. and its media agents try to portray the Kashmiri struggle in communal overtones. This Goebbelsian propaganda is deliberately done in order to cover the fascist atrocities perpetrated by the Indian state on the Kashmiri people. And then there is the absurd argument of Pakistani interference. It is for the Kashmiri people to decide who they want to go with or not go with. An Indian state and its army which is looting, raping and killing the Kashmiris can have no say in this”, the hard hitting statement said.
The statement further recalled that, “As early as 1956, when the then Indian govt. tried to project the image of ‘one India’, Periyar stood by the right of the Kashmiris to self-determination, recognizing them as a unique national formation”. Launching a scathging attack on the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the statement said “Karunannidhi who shamelessly claims to uphold the Periyar legacy is cracking down on all democratic voices supporting various national-liberation struggles and people movements. As the situation stands in Tamil Nadu, anyone speaking in support of the Eelam Tamils or protesting against the racist Sri Lankan state are arrested under ridiculous charges, including the draconian NSA. Today’s arrest of the PDK activists who voiced their support of the Kashmiri struggle clearly shows the fascist nature of the Indian state and its stooge, the DMK govt”.
Kolathur Mani, on behalf of the Tamil activists, pledged solidarity with the Kashmiri people’s demands and stressed the importance of taking the issue to the Tamil masses.
He declared that the Tamil people stand in solidarity with the Kashmiri struggle for Azadi.
Observe August 15th as a Black Day for Kashmir!
A release by Delhi Tamil Students Union
Frontlines of Revolutionary Struggle 