Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

‘Baloch people pinning hopes on India’

- Rajeev Mullick rajeev.mullick@hindustant­imes.com

LUCKNOW: Baloch leader and freedom fighter Mir Mazdak Dilshad Khan has once again appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all Indian citizens to support the Baloch people in their fight against Pakistan as it had crushed the human rights of the Baloch people for ages.

“We are thankful to PM Modi and Government of India for its support to the Baloch cause as it means that we are no longer alone. We staged several protests outside the United Nation but got no response. However, PM Modi’s kind words worked magic for us,” said Mazdak Dilshad Baloch while addressing the media here on Sunday.

He was in the state capital to take part in a two-day internatio­nal seminar organised by Dr Shakuntala Misra National University, Lucknow in collaborat­ion with UGC. The seminar concluded on Sunday.

The Baloch leader said Balochis only wanted freedom. They did not need anything else. He desired that India should support the Baloch movement for strategic reasons. This would counter the maligned design of China for empowering Pakistan. The Baloch movement needed strengthen­ing by internatio­nal community, he said.

Mir Mazdak very categorica­lly said that the only solution was Baloch freedom. He opined that the Baloch movement had been emboldened by PM Narendra Modi’s observatio­n on Baloch problem in his Independen­ce Day address. Emphasisin­g the importance of Indian support to Baloch movement, he said: “You do not know how lonely we were. But now, we are not alone.”

Dilshad said, “No Islamic country has stood up for the cause of the Balochis. India is our natural ally and with PM Modi here, Baloch people are pinning hope that India will play a lead role in liberating Balochista­n from the grip of Pakistan which is doing perpetrati­ng atrocities on our brothers and sisters.”

Citing the atrocities meted out to Baloch people by the Pakistani establishm­ent, Mazdak Dilshad said that there was no home in Balochista­n that had not sacrificed its members. He said, “Pakistan army beats our children. I can say that the people of Pakistan are no different from Pakistan army.”

Thanking the people of India, he said: “Pakistan has forcefully captured Balochista­n. We don’t want to be with Pakistan.” He observed that Baloch independen­ce was beneficial to both India and Balochista­n.

Vice-chancellor of Dr Shakuntala Misra National University Prof Nishith Rai said, “Baloch moment has got a new dimension after Prime Minister’s remarks on Baloch problem in his Independen­ce address. Now, there is an imperative need to exert internatio­nal pressure for Baloch independen­ce.”

We staged several protests outside the United Nation but got no response. However, PM Modi’s kind words worked magic for us MAZDAK DILSHAD BALOCH, Baloch leader and freedom fighter Now, there is an imperative need to exert internatio­nal pressure for Baloch independen­ce PROF AP TIWARI, academic advisor

 ?? RAJEEV MULLICK/HT ?? Baloch leader and freedom fighter Mir Mazdak Dilshad Khan viewing an exhibition showing the pains and sufferings of Baloch people at Dr Shakuntala Misra National University on Sunday.
RAJEEV MULLICK/HT Baloch leader and freedom fighter Mir Mazdak Dilshad Khan viewing an exhibition showing the pains and sufferings of Baloch people at Dr Shakuntala Misra National University on Sunday.

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