Borough Helps Celebrate Kashmiri Democracy

Dignitaries in the borough attended a flag raising event at Rochdale Town Hall to celebrate the National Day of Kashmir.

Among those at the event were the Mayor, Councillor Carol Wardle, leader Councillor Richard Farnell, Simon Danczuk MP and councillors including Daalat Ali, Shakil Ahmed, Amna Mir, Aftab Hussain, Mohammed Zaman, Cecile Biant, Surinder Biant, Aasim Rashid, Farooq and Shefali Ahmed and Karen Danczuk.

The National Day of Kashmir takes place on October 24 to mark the formation in 1947 of the government of the state of Azad (free) Jammu and Kashmir after the Kashmiri people rebelled against the autocratic rule of the Maharaja.

Councillor Daalat Ali, Cabinet Member for Community, Culture and Tourism at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The desire to achieve freedom, social justice, peace and a democratic system of governance is renewed annually through Kashmir National Day on 24th October by Kashmiris all across the globe.

“In Rochdale borough we celebrate our multi-cultural community and how it has enriched the area.”