Islamabad: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter has said that India has no moral, political, or democratic grounds to celebrate its so-called Republic Day while continuing to deny fundamental rights to the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Beyond the Time News, APHC-AJK General Secretary Advocate Pervaiz Ahmed, in a detailed statement issued on the occasion of India’s Republic Day said that the prevailing ground realities in the occupied territory expose a grave and persistent human rights crisis, marked by mass detentions, suppression of dissent, excessive militarization, and systematic silencing of political, religious, and journalistic voices.

Advocate Pervaiz Ahmed said India is not a democratic state but a colonial, oppressive, and racist entity that has forcibly deprived millions of Kashmiris of their basic human, political, and constitutional rights. He said democracy is not defined by constitutions, elections, or ceremonial celebrations, but by respect for human dignity, equality, religious and political freedom, and protection of minorities—principles India has completely failed to uphold. He termed India’s Republic Day a Black Day and a symbol of slavery for Kashmiris, urging the UN, EU, OIC, and international rights bodies to hold India accountable and ensure Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

In their separate statements, APHC-AJK leaders Altaf Hussain Wani and Altaf Butt said India cannot celebrate Republic Day when thousands of Kashmiris, including politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, and civilians, remain imprisoned for demanding freedom. They said arbitrary detentions, criminalization of peaceful political activity, and long-term incarceration without charge have become routine.