Kashmiris hold city protests over India
Hundreds gather for angry protests outside consulate in Birmingham over rising tensions back in homeland
BIRMINGHAM’S Kashmiri community leaders have called for a boycott of Bollywood films and Indian goods as anger mounts over the fate of their homeland.
The city’s 150,000 Kashmiris are watching with increasing anger as events unfold following the Indian Prime Minister’s decision to strip the region of its special status, triggering a political crisis and raising the spectre of violence.
Two large protests took place in Birmingham last Friday and Saturday, with a third – billed as the biggest yet – due to take place this Thursday outside the Indian consulate in the Jewellery Quarter.
Majid Mahmood, city councillor and proud Kashmiri, said the mood among the region’s diaspora was “very sombre”.
“People are disgusted with what has happened and the stance of the Indian Government.
“We are calling for solidarity from the international community and want to see pressure exerted on Prime Minister Modi over his actions.
“Locally we are urging everyone to boycott Indian goods, including watching Bollywood films and unsubscribing from Indian TV channels – anything that could impact on the Indian economy.”
Politicians of all parties have joined to press Boris Johnson to stand with Kashmir and condemn India’s revocation of Article 370.
Birmingham MPs Khalid Mahmood and Shabana Mahmood are among those to have signed a letter expressing their ‘deep concern’ over the Indian Government’s actions.
Birmingham is a base for the Kashmiri Liberation Organisation, one of a group of nationalist political groups under the umbrella of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Council (JMCC), led by Najib Afsar and his son Shakeel.
Shakeel Afsar said the Kashmiri people were demanding the right to self determination and were pleading with the international community to apply political pressure.
“We do not want to see the Kashmiri people forced to take up arms but we cannot allow this to go on.
“If the British Government was to permit Kashmiris like me to go and help liberate our community then I would be there. Our sovereignty has to be restored.”
He added: “We need the UK Government to condemn this action vigorously.” He said Kashmiris living in Birmingham were very upset, wherever in the region they were from. “We are also getting support from Sikhs in Birmingham who are also very concerned about what is happening.”
Mr Afsar starred in a video message with Hall Green MP Roger Godsiff in which they appealed for strong condemnation of the Indian action.
Mr Godsiff said: “I have always supported the rights of the Kashmiri people on both sides of the line of control to have the right to determine their own future.
“I deplore what the Indian Government and PM Modi has done in seeking to revoke the special status of Kashmir. This is a most unhelpful development and will provoke a massive response from Kashmiris... in the wider diaspora, including in Birmingham.”
On Friday, around 500 campaign
Locally we are urging everyone to boycott Indian goods, including watching Bollywood films
Cllr Majid Mahmood
ers rallied on Augusta Street outside the Indian Consulate in the Jewellery Quarter.
Protesters chanted: “We want freedom” and “Stop killing in Kashmir”.
Veteran political agitator George Galloway, who plans to fight for a Parlaimentary seat in Tom Watson West Bromwich constituency, told the rally: “Nobody wants to pick a fight with India, I certainly don’t – India is a great and important country but I tell the Indian people: Modi is leading you to disaster.”
Protests continued outside the Council House in Victoria Square on Saturday.
More than 500 protesters took part in the two hour rally, jointly organised by Cllr Majid Mahmood and the Stop the War organisation.
A bigger, jointly coordinated protest is taking place today to coincide with Independence Day for India (August 15) and will also be outside the Indian consulate.