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Modi visits occupied Kashmir amid protest strike
India’s prime minster Narendra Modi is in occupied Kashmir for a daylong visit on Sunday to review development work as Kashmiris fighting Indian rule called for a shutdown in the Himalayan region.
Shops and businesses were shut while thousands of armed Indian forces and commandos in flak jackets spread out across the area and closed off roads with coiled razor wire and iron barricades to prevent protests and attacks during Modi's visit.
Traffic was sparse, with buses staying off the roads and few cars venturing out in Srinagar, the main city and the center of urban dissent against Indian occupation, where Modi is expected later on Sunday. He will also address a public rally in a Hindu-dominated area in Jammu.
Authorities detained dozens of activists overnight and put Kashmiri leaders under house arrest to stop them from staging any protest in Srinagar.
They also shut internet on mobile phones and suspended train services in the Kashmir Valley, a common tactic to make organising protests difficult and discourage dissemination of protest videos.
Modi arrived in the remote mountainous Ladakh region bordering China and Pakistan on Sunday morning, where he inaugurated a university.
Three Kashmiri leaders, known as the Joint Resistance Leadership, called for the strike to protest Modi’s visit.
“A person who in his pursuit to crush Kashmiri resistance ordered killings and damaging properties, hurting Kashmiri economy and other oppressive measures deserves only a protest from those he has oppressed,” the leaders said in a statement.
Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, which in recent years has seen renewed attacks and repeated public protests. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown.
Kashmiris have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding that the Indian-occupied areas be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
Comments (91) Closed
Protest are not peaceful but violent, that is why security steps are taken.
You have right to protest but indulging in law and order breaking situation, vandalizing, is not tolerable.
Wearing perfect hat...Suits on him
Leaders are those who agenda, leading people for cause, grievances, policies, but Hurriyat Conference do not represent any Kashmiri, they represent only themselves, with one agenda, segregation.
There are no protests at all. Kashmiri are going on their lives as usual.
Compare AJK and J&K of India, wide development, from dams, to bridges, well built roads to railways, electricity 24 hours, high educational institutions from science to technology, best hospitals, more benefits for Kashmiri students in school, colleges, universities.
Democracy in action?
where he inaugurated a university" That is called development and caring for future generations .Education
PM Modi inaugurates developmental projects in J&K, worth Rs 35,000 crore in Leh, a new AIIMS hospital at two different locations, a railway line from New Delhi to Ladakh Leh to boost and benefit tourism sector.
Modi knows IOK is lost but he went for photo op to fool only his gullible people back home , for election purposes, as the world already knows the truth.
@Lalita, Then why dont you prove it by UN plebiscite. True sentiments of kashmiris will be expressed. Why hide, evade, deceive to fool your own public. In a fair UN supervised election Hurriyet will steam roll all other fraudulently set up parties. Try it.
Protests are not peaceful? Protestors are not armed, if some of them hurl stones its because Indian forces shoot them blind.
Modi is face of what ever bad is happening in India. Kashmiris will never surrender they will fight for freedom from Indian occupation for ever. The saner elements of India should raise their voice against Indian occupation of Kashmir. One has to understand there is no pride in occupation.
@Pranab, It is shameful how low can India stoop to justify the atrocities committed by its soldiers in Kashmir.
Democracy Indian style in action. My hats off to Kashmiri people. Evan after 70 years of occupation by brutal Indian forces has not changed their opinion and resolve for independence.
@Lalita, You mean independence.
@Mudasir Ahmed, You can not bribe brave people who only want independence. Keep trying as you have done for 70 years but that will not change anything.
Guns, killings and development projects cannot take away the right of self determination.
So this is India, the world's biggest (some say greatest) democracy, ruled by an iron fist
Kashmir is a part of Pakistan.India must stop its brutality on the innocent people.
@Zak, Photo op, your ministers are good at it, Modi went to inaugurate various projects in Ladakh, Leh.
Isn't violation of basic human rights? Freedom of speech, gathering!
But I have not seen such a shutdown in J&K today. I seen as general day as yesterday.
End this killing game please.
@Pranab, Have you ever been to the region to see the atrocities carried out by Indian occupied forces, I have seen it so don't preach us about protests. When you suppress a nation, a revolt is the only option, inshallah Kashmir will be free from Indian occupation.
@Karachi King, He looks pathetic as ever, scared, stressed and completely demoralized.
Its a matter of time and by now india also understands this
@Roshan,
So when will India provide facilities and safety to Occupied Kashmiris?
What any embarrassing failure! A visit held under a curfew like situation. Why did Modi have to face this shame?
Modi's trip to Occupied Kashmir is deplorable. Kashmir will be free.
@Pranab, Kashmir is illegally occupied territory.
Occupied Kashmir?
Remember Congress had the same Kashmir policy.
people don't like him that's why they protest he has no right to be in Kashmir ,
It seems there’s no one in India except Arundhati Roy who has the courage to speak the truth about Kashmir. Sad state of affairs!
“shut internet on mobile phones and suspended train services in the Kashmir Valley, a common tactic to make organising protests difficult...”
Oh, look! The “world’s largest democracy”. A complete sham.
Modi’s visit and the measures taken to crush dissent and protest is more proof that Kashmir is an “Occupied Territory” - not part of a so-called Democracy.
India is a “Democracy”. Not a Democracy.
@Zak, Please read UN resolution first.
@Zak, Have you read the UN resolution? Please read the conditions of the plebiscite first before preaching.
India far from being the largest democracy in the world, where people can freely express their views and human rights are protected, in reality is a "fascist" State. India has let loose a reign of terror, with massive torture / killings in Kashmir. Why has India denied the world press for independent assessment, just as it denied Amnesty International, even the US Congressional Human Rights Committee to visit Kashmir?
@Srinagar, in their homes and jails you mean?
@Kashmiri , just watch. True Kashmiris shall vote for Modi
Shame! Shame on India and all those in favour of this brutal oppression!
Occupied Kashmir will become free Kashmir under Modi rule.
@Pranab, is that the best you can come up with
Worlds largest democracy in action.
@Roshan, compare poverty rate in Pakistan with India, over 325 million living on less than a dollar a day and growing, that nearly one an a half times the population of Pakistan.
The most unwanted character anywhere. No one wants him.
@Sujit,
You trolls love to give us 'lessons' on reading UN Resolution, but should first tell your government to ask Pakistan to withdraw so that plebiscite can be conducted.
You know India won't because if Pakistan calls the bluff then you will HAVE to conduct plebiscite under UN supervision. So go on tell your government to announce plebiscite, that's the FIRST step!
Why is he there when nobody wants him there?
@jan, hate or love people of this country will decide and not outsiders.
@Ali, : So what are you going to do about it?
You should have the courage to report what he did there and what he talked about
@M. Siddique,
Says who?
@Zak,
Read the un resolution first.
@Pranab, over many decades of protest, violence etc., the message cannot be anymore loudest and clearest that Kashmiri people don’t want India to occupy their land. The Indian government should stop acting deaf and accept the will of the Kashmiri people and let go of Kashmir as per their demand. Where are the democratic values of India and its conscience which claims to be the largest democracy in the world? Stop hurting the people of Kashmir
@Srinagar, They protested by staying home! How generous!
@Asad, Is it? Says who--you?
When did he go to Muzafarabad he was in Srinagar the capital of J&K
America realized its mistake in vietnam , in Iraq , and now in afghanistan , and is doing the right thing to resolve the wrong , it’s high time the Indian state realized it’s mistakes , and give freedom to the Kashmiri people .
@Changez Khan, says who
@Asad, then why don't you take it.
@Ali, A country ruled and control by army for 70 yrs has no face to lecture India on democracy.
Govt. of India has provided Rs. 44,000 crores for development of Kashmir which is more than the budget of Pakistan.
@bhaRAT©, no it is not... read the resolutions... ooops you cant withdraw, you have given it to China....before calling people trolls, suggest you do some reading
@Byju, don't advise zak ..he is stuck in some time warp which keeps repeating for him... He will say the same thing tomorrow as well
MODI is only talking about Development and providing High quality education and creating jobs for youth. He is a visionary statesman.
PM Modi in his successful and fruitful visit inaugurated University in Leh and started many important works worth billions of Rupees in Leh, Kargil, Srinagar and Jammu. He also spoke in two election rallies held in Leh and Jammu.His party BJP won 3 Loksabha seats out of 6 seats in J & K in 2014 .As far as Hurriyat concerned they are now insignificant and lost importance in modern J & K.
Utter nonsense.
@sourav ghosh, "before calling people trolls, suggest you do some reading"
What makes you think trolls is bad word? I wonder who need 'do some reading'!
@Zak, unfortunately for you he will be back with bang..
Expected a more balanced report from a newspaper of your repute. Utterly biased and far from reality.
@Reynolds, You want to see rule by iron fist: Look no further than your sweeter than honey iron brother.
@AD, Controlled by the establishment. What do you expect.
@Asad, Go on dreaming.
@Kashmiri , Friends please manage your own home.. We love modi and we want modi for next 10yrs .. We would like to be prosperous in all aspect .. And just forget about Kashmir.. Make your country prosperous as well.. Lets stay together peacefully..
@SKG, 70 years is not that much, it will be in your life time. Watch and see.
@Krishna, Yes , Indian occupied kashmir, IOK. When the local nationals dont want you and the foreign invader needs 700,000 thugs to try and subjugate them,its an occupation.
@H O SHARMA,
How do you reconcile democracy with caste system?
They would be forced out of Kashmir just like they have been forced out of Afghanistan.
@Mudasir Ahmed, thank you .
@M. Siddique, but modi did not visit pakistan occupied kashmir
@Ahmad, that can be seen in pakista n development right ?
@Asad, remember the brutality happened in 1989 how pandits thrown out of valley.
@Shakeel, you are right.we can see in pak everywhere.
@Fastrack,.in pa k even to enter a govt building need to cross 2 checkpoints.why is it so.no trust in its people's
@Roshan,
AJK infrastructure is actually quite good - this despite the fact that you’re comparing the flat Valley to a mountainous region like Azad Kashmir
Indian government is finally showing resolve. This is getting out of hand. We need to do something and fast. Pakistani zindabad
@Srinagar, really. And Mohdi is waving to empty streets and deserted land. Does that appear normal to you?
@Mudasir Ahmed, you can use such bribery tactics to buy some people off, but most people cherish their freedom .
@Saif ul Huk, I salute this brave lady.