Kashmiri Alliance in UK plans counter-protest

An alliance of 'Kashmiri nationalist parties' based in the UK have decided to go on hunger strike to counter an anti-India rally planned here on Sunday.
The Jammu Kashmir National Independent Alliance (JKNIA) will hold simultaneous "token hunger strikes" outside the Indian High Commission and Pakistani High Commission in London on Saturday with the message of "give peace a chance".
"JKNIA believes strongly that former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir is forcibly divided and occupied; and that we are victims on both sides of the Line of Control, where both India and Pakistan are having armed skirmishes," the group said in a statement issued here today.

"We want to tell both governments and the world community that we don't want India and Pakistan to use weapons to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Violence, terrorism and use of gun is not way forward," it added.
JKNIA will hand over two memorandums addressed to the Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers calling for Kashmiri independence.
The group is opposing the so-called 'Million March' planned for October 26 from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street and being led by Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry.

"If they are genuinely concerned about Kashmiris, then why not spend the huge amount of money that is going into the 'Million March' on the welfare of the poor Kashmiris suffering from the floods," questioned Shabir Choudhry, co-organiser of the hunger strikes.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the "peaceful Million March" have claimed "massive response from all groups, not just Kashmiris".
Majid Chaudhry, the organiser of the 'Million March' said the march is not anti or pro any country.
"It is simply about people in Britain raising their voice against injustice," said Chaudhry.