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4,500 km 'yatra' against Special Powers Act begins
Sunday October 16, 2011 08:01:54 PM,
IANS
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Srinagar:
A Srinagar
to Imphal anti-Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 'yatra'
covering 4,500 km began here Sunday "to generate public opinion"
for the withdrawal of the law from Jammu and Kashmir and the
northeast.
Social activist Medha Patkar, Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey,
National Alliance of People's Movement leader Faisal Khan, Irom
Sharmila's brother Irom Singhjhit, Parveena Ahangar of the
Association of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and local independent
legislator Engineer Abdul Rashid were among 25 people who joined
the 'yatra'.
The activists prayed at the historic Hazratbal shrine for peace
and harmony.
They then went to the Press Enclave, where Patkar and the others
addressed the activists before embarking on the 'yatra', which
will pass through 10 states before concluding at Imphal's
Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital Oct 27.
Sharmila, a leading civil rights activist, has been on a hunger
strike in hospital since November 2000 demanding the AFSPA's
repeal.
Patkar demanded the AFSPA's withdrawal and said guns and violence
don't solve any problem.
"Dialogue is the only way to resolve complex issues like Kashmir.
We will fight jointly to save humanity. Even the central
interlocutors have demanded the withdrawal of the AFSPA. We will
continue our fight till the Act is withdrawn," she said.
Faisal Khan said: "It is for the first time that such a 'yatra' is
being organised to protect democratic values. Our main objective
is to generate public opinion about sufferings of people affected
by the AFSPA."
The activists shouting slogans "Down with AFSPA" later boarded the
vehicles to begin their journey.
"More and more people will join us
en route as we travel through the major cities," Patkar said.
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