Ban Burhan Wani Day Rally, Bournville Councillor Asks UK Govt

Bournville Councillor Peter Douglas Osborn has asked the government to ban events expected to take place in Birmingham in slain Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani’s name, ANI reported.

Osborn wrote a letter to UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd over the issue, anticipating a rally in the area in memory of Wani on his death anniversary coming on July 8.

Osborn wrote in the letter dated March 15: “I spent ¾ hour on Channel X, a major Indian TV media channel, with spokesmen from the BJP, Congress party, and other minor parties explaining our weak response as a city to such a provocation. The city allowed, banned, then allowed again under pressure from a small section of the community. I did promise that I would try to get it banned this year which is why I am writing to you. Intelligence suggests that another protest is being planned.”

Osborn, who is from Bournville, Birmingham, also talked about the sensitivity of the Indian public to extremists being lauded in the United Kingdom.

The Birmingham City Council on July 6, 2017, after witnessing a strong protest from India, withdrew permission for a “Burhan Wani Day” rally that was to be held to mark the first death anniversary of the militant. The rally was to be held by UK-based organization that backs the Kashmiri separatism. Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe was in the forefront, seeking permission for the rally.

The promotional material for the event carried images of Wani. The material said: “We will take back what is ours forcefully. We will not rest until Kashmir is free from Kuffers and hoist the flag of Islamic Ummah.”

As per media reports, Indian authorities sent a “Note Verbale” to the United Kingdom to register their protest against the event. The note contained details of crimes and violence committed by Wani in the Kashmir valley.

Wani was killed by Indian security forces in theh Tral region of Jammu and Kashmir on July 8, 2016. His death caused unrest in Kashmir, resulting in 96 deaths. About 15,000 civilians and 4,000 security personnel were injured during the protests that followed for a few months.

Some members of the Kashmiri diaspora are also reported to be planning to join hands with the Sikh community to protest outside the venue of the Commonwealth Summit in London and Windsor, scheduled to be attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 18, 2018.