INDIA’S sham democracy has once again denied Kashmiris their right to assembly by arresting a score of Kashmiri leaders. The leaders belonging to the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Hurriyat Conference had gathered to attend a get-together, but the Hindu-centric Indian regime alleged that it was an attempt to ‘revive terrorism’. This is a completely baseless allegation.

The fact is that the Modi regime does not allow the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir to have any form of democratic rights. They are not allowed any intellectual discussion on public forums, like seminars. The whole world knows that the government of Narendra Modi has been carrying out ethnic cleansing in India in an attempt to convert that country into an intolerant Hindu-centric society.

The Kashmiris, however, have been demanding their legitimate right to self-determination. It is not a separatist movement that strives to secede from India, but a genuine indigenous movement seeking the reunification of occupied Jammu and Kashmir with Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and withdrawal of all foreign troops.

When India attacked Jammu and Kashmir on Oct 27, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, the prime minister, had been advised by his British army chief that it was not possible to take Jammu and Kashmir by force, and, therefore, a political approach should be adopted.

That is why Nehru had taken the matter to the United Nations and intentionally prolonged the situation in order to consolidate the Indian position. Modi reversed Nehru’s decision and revoked the special status, denying even a right to hold a seminar.

The world should take notice of the Modi regime that has been terrorising people of Jammu and Kashmir in their own homes, demolishing their businesses, and continuing illegal settlements of the Indians in order to change the demography of the region.

Quayyum Raja
Chairman, Centre for Jammu Kashmir Public Diplomacy
Mirpur, AJK

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2023