Mumbai, Jan 7, TEN Network | Images and videos of a woman holding up a large poster with the words “Free Kashmir” written in big bold letters at the Gateway of India protest in Mumbai have gone viral. The posters have triggered outrage among BJP leaders and social media users asked how can such “separatist elements” be tolerated in the city.
Videos of the woman holding up the “Free Kashmir” poster and demanding restoration of humanity in the Kashmir Valley was shot at the Mumbai protest on Monday night.
Targeting Maharashtra CM and his former colleague Uddhav Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis wrote on Twitter, “Protest is for what exactly? Why slogans of “Free Kashmir”? How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? ‘Free Kashmir’ slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO? Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???”
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also tweeted, “To the young of India I want to ask, don’t you see how the ongoing protests are really about breaking apart India? If your answer involves ‘but’ please take this advice – THINK AGAIN!!”
On Tuesday morning, students, actors, artistes and civil society members protesting against the violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were removed from Gateway of India and taken to Azad Maidan.
At 7 am, the police first explained to all the students that they should vacate this place because people are facing a lot of trouble because of the demonstration. When students did not agree everyone was shifted to Azad Maidan.
According to police sources, the personnel fear tension in the area following the controversy over “Free Kashmir” posters that were waved on the Gateway of India on Monday evening.
Protests in Mumbai have continued since Sunday night when JNU came under attack by a gang of masked goons.
On Monday, hundreds of students, NGOs and prominent personalities from various organizations protested at the Gateway of India to condemn the incident. Expressing solidarity with JNU students and professors, the students carried the Indian tricolour, banners and posters to condemn the violent attack. (IT)
