- ‘We Want Freedom’ drawing showed greenery on one side; a barren land on the other side
SRINAGAR: The Indian Army faced some embarrassment at a day-long youth festival hosted by it in Srinagar after one of the participants made a drawing merging the flags of Pakistan and India under which was written “we want freedom.”
The ‘Chinar Youth Festival 2018’ was organised by the Indian Army’s 15 Corps at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre. The painting was drawn by a student who had written “we don’t want bloodshed” and “we want freedom.”
Another painting depicted the transformation of Kashmir from a beautiful valley into a battlefield. The painting showed greenery – trees and mountains – on the one side and a barren land – guarded by people in military camouflage and a helicopter hovering above – on the other side.
“Beautiful Kashmir turns into a battlefield” was written on the drawing. There was another painting depicting another side of the conflict in the valley as it showed a blood-soaked Kashmir with words ‘stone pelting’ written over it. An army official said that there can be diverse views as hundreds of the students participated in the event.
Governor Satya Pal Malik was the chief guest on the occasion. Besides painting, the event witnessed other competitions like singing, instrumental recitals and cultural performances by the students from various schools across the valley.