Kashmiris to resist Indian flag hoisting

Key separatists leaders in Indian-administered Kashmir have warned the New Delhi government against holding a flag-hoisting ceremony in the disputed Himalayan region.

The warning comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it would go ahead with plans to hoist the Indian flag at a landmark in Srinagar — the summer capital Of Kashmir.

The event is to take place on India’s Republic Day on January 26th.

BJP, India’s second-largest political party, has also urged thousands of Hindu extremists to march towards Kashmir.

The key political leaders in Kashmir have denounced the moves as “provocative” and urged India to shed its prejudice against the people of Kashmir.

“The world will see whose flag is going to be hoisted at the city center,” Kashmir’s main separatist alliance said in a statement.

Kashmiri leaders have announced the Indian Republic Day will be observed as “Black Day” and plan to stage nationwide protests against New Delhi’s rule in the region.

The developments come at a time when violence continues to wreak havoc in the troubled valley.

Kashmir is one of the world’s most militarized areas and roughly, half-a-million Indian forces are stationed across the valley.

The region has been gripped by a string of violent protests since last year when a teenager was killed by police. More than 110 people have so far been killed in the unrest.

The Kashmir valley has either been under curfew or shut down over the past four months. Residents have been complaining about the shortage of food, medicine and other supplies across the valley.

Thousands have been killed in the volatile Indian-administered Kashmir since 1989.

Several regional and international rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called on India to take immediate steps to protect and respect human rights in Kashmir.