Protests in Kargil against US President, Israeli PM

SRINAGAR: Hundreds of people participated in a procession in Kargil organised in support of the Iranian government and their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei terming the ongoing protests as a conspiracy backed by the United States of America and Israel.

The procession was held under the banner of the Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust (IKMT) on Wednesday afternoon during which two symbolic coffins carrying pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were dragged through the streets and later burnt in protest.

The protestors raised slogans against Trump and Netanyahu vowing to support Khamenei “till the last drop of their blood.” They also carried portraits of Imam Khomeini and Khamenei and placards expressing solidarity with the people of Iran. The procession passed through the main market area and concluded near the Old Taxi Stand, where a formal public meeting was held. A separate women’s procession marched from Fatima Chowk and later merged with the main gathering.


“People of Kargil have always stood firmly with the Islamic system and are ready to make every sacrifice for its defence…The United States and Israel, through their agents, have damaged mosques, imambaras, libraries, and other public properties,” said Asgar Ali Karbalai, a prominent leader of Kargil. He said Iran has expressed solidarity with all the oppressed nations of the world.

Chairman of IKMT, Sheikh Sadiq Rajai, in his address, praised the political insight and courage of Khamenei, stating that all conspiracies by hostile forces had failed due to his leadership. “All the conscious countries of the world are supporting Iran. If Muslim countries unite, the US and Israel won’t dare spread this terror across the world,” Rajai said.

Meanwhile, parents of the students studying in Iran, gathered at the Press Enclave in Srinagar demanding immediate evacuation of their children from different areas of Iran. As per unofficial estimates from education consultants, over 1,500 students from India are doing MBBS in Iran, of which over 60% are from J&K. Besides students, hundreds of pilgrims and businessmen from Kashmir and other parts of India frequently travel to Iran every month.

“In the absence of internet service, there is great difficulty connecting ISD calls. We are told that the Indian Embassy in Tehran has issued a communication to Indians to leave the country,” said a parent, whose daughter studies in Iran. They requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to take immediate action before any student is hurt.

“This government had efficiently evacuated the students during the Iran-Israel crisis and we hope they will do the same today. If even a single student is hurt, the government shall be held responsible for that,” said another parent.