Kashmir valley on Saturday observed a complete shutdown in response to the call by separatists against the Independence Day speech of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in which he had stated that the separatists were loosing ground in the state.
Manmohan Singh in his Independence Day speech had said successful completion of Assembly and parliamentary elections in Kashmir during the past one year "was a proof that there was no place for separatist thought in the State".
The separatists took strong exception to the PM’s address and termed it condemnable. “Singh should adopt a realistic approach and understand the people have never accepted the illegal occupation of Kashmir by his (Indian) forces,” said a spokesman of Hurriyat Conference, which called for the strike.