‘New Year events against Kashmiris’ religious sensibilities’

Srinagar: Separatist women’s group Dukhtaran-e-Milat here on Monday said the cultural programmes and concerts being organised on New Year’s eve and other occasions are ‘cultural onslaught’ on Kashmiris’ religious sensibilities.

“Programmes being organised by some unknown group called ‘Kashmiriyat’ on December 31 at Gulmarg is a cultural onslaught. This programme is being sponsored by a few Urdu and English dailies and TV channels,” said Asiya Andrabi, chief of separatist women’s group ‘Dukhtaran-e-Milat’, in a statement here.

“In this proposed programme, in the name of art, music and comedy, shameless actors of Bollywood have been invited. These events are being branded as Kashmiriyat in a clear attempt to counter the Islamic ideology of Kashmiris.

“Real culture of Kashmir is related to Islam and it has no place to celebrate events like New Year… these events … don’t have any connection with Islam.

“These programmes are being organized under an agenda devised by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh to thrust upon Kashmir the shameless and lewd culture of India,” the statement said.

Appealing to people to stay away from these programmes at any cost, she said that on one hand “our youth are laying down their lives for Islam and on the other hand, these shameless programmes are being held”.