JAMMU: Massive protests were held here today against the terrorist attack on an army base in North Kashmir's Uri town in which 18 soldiers were killed with protestors burning Pakistani flags and its effigies. College and university students, lawyers, political parties, traders and various other organisations took out separate protest rallies in solidarity with the army and against the Pakistan for "aiding and abetting terrorism".
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) activists took out a rally from the Press Club area of the city and held protest demonstrations amid anti-Pakistan slogans. They also burnt down the effigy of Pakistan and demanded the country should be declared as "terrorist state".
"We demand that Pakistan should be declared as a terrorist state. Pakistan and its militants are attacking security forces and creating unrest in Kashmir. They are responsible for terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir," JKNPP Chairman Harsh Dev Singh told reporters.
Dubbing the neighbouring country as a "threat to the peace in South Asian region", JKNNP leader castigated Pakistan for pushing fidayeens' to carry out terror attacks on the security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir, besides "endorsing support to secessionists in the Valley".
Singh lambasted Pakistan for its "malicious and mischievous" designs in sponsoring militant attacks on defence installions in the state and abetting terror attacks across the country. Condemning the attack on the Army Brigade headquarters in Uri, he accused Pakistan for "pushing militants into our territory to vitiate peace and harmony in the state and the country".
The JKNPP leader said Pakistan's "notoriety" had now assumed "alarming proportions" as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had on the eve of Eid announced "to continue its support to secessionists and other disruptive forces in Kashmir".
Singh said the statement was followed by the most "cowardly and deadliest" terror attack on the Indian Army in last two decades and unveiled the "nefarious designs of the belligerent neighbour to destabilise India".
He alleged Pakistan has not been "mending ways" despite repeated warnings at appropriate forums and held the "rogue country responsible for the ongoing mayhem in Kashmir which had left thousands of security personnel injured".
Singh said it was high time that India should launch a "full throttle campaign" against Pakistan at international level for latter's interference in India's internal matters. The activists of right wing party Shiv Sena also held protest at Bari Brahmana and Sunderbani area against Pakistan. The Protest was led by state president of the party Dimpy Kohli.
Speaking on the occasion, Kohli targeted Pakistan for its "mischievous designs" in sponsoring militant attacks on Indian defence bases, besides aiding secessionists in Kashmir. He asked Central government to "act tough and give a befitting reply to Pakistan without wasting time".
National Conference Student Union also held protest demonstration and accused BJP of "just giving statements and not doing enough to stop such attacks".
ABVP organised a 'Tiranga Rally' from the Jammu university up to Vikram chowk and more than 500 students and scholars participated in it. The students of MAM, SPMC and GGMC colleges carried out separate rallies against Pakistan and burnt Pak flags amid anti-Pakistan slogans.