Asif Iqbal Naik
KISHTWAR
A day after Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS) held a march on the eve of its 91st foundation day, anti-India and pro-freedom slogans were raised in Youm-e-Ashoora rally that took place in Doda nearly after 25 years.
As per the details available with Kashmir Life reveal that setting aside their differences and face-off between the Shia and Sunni sects, thousands of people on the call of Sunni backed Markazi Seerat Committee Doda, Youm-e-Ashura was today observed with great reverence and religious fervour in Doda district to pay rich tributes to Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his companions for the supreme sacrifice in Karbala 1400 years ago.
On the instructions of the Markazi Seerat Committee Doda which had directed the business community of the Doda to ensure its participation in the procession, all the shops and business establishments whole Doda Town and its adjoining kept their shutters down and participated in large number which is first of its kind in the history of the Chenab region where Shia community has a negligible presence.
As asked by the Markazi Seerat Committee, the people with black badges gathered at Jamia Masjid Doda wherefrom they in the shape of procession passed through Doda town which culminated at Eidgah Doda where various Islamic Scholars addressed the gathering.
The speakers on the occasion threw light over the historical, social and religious aspects of the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).
The protesters en route Eidgah Doda raised anti-India and pro-freedom slogans demanding immediate release of all the youths arrested by Doda and Kishtwar police including the four people namely Advocate Baber Nehru, Rehmatullah, Molvi Abdul Qayoom Mattoo and Saif-ud-Din Baghwan who are presently lodged in Jammu’s Kotbalwal jail, besides they expressed a serious concern over the continuous killings of innocents in Kashmir valley.
The speakers also expressed serious concern over the rallies carried out by right wing RSS in Doda and Kishtwar districts.
The speakers termed it as a well-planned conspiracy to incite communal discord in the region.
Keeping in view the huge number of participants in the procession, district administration had deployed huge security personnel to thwart any untoward incident, besides “the men in uniform did not prefer to confront with the people raising pro-freedom slogans”.
Those who addressed the gathering include Saidullah Balwan, Abdul Qayoom Zargar, Abdul Hafiz Sheikh, Mohammad Suhaib Balwan and others.
