India deeper into quicksand

On 90th day of Kashmir lockdown, saner voices in India tell Modi to desist from misadventures

Modi, like all fascists, knows only repression and no restraint. He claims he is heading a democratic government but he has no tolerance for non-majoritarian views and needs. Political thinkers have stressed democracy is by discussion, but Modi has utter contempt for discussion. He has been taking reckless actions flagrantly violating human rights of the Kashmiris. He has been taking decisions on Kashmir without discussing issues with leaders of the Kashmiris. Where is the room for discussion when all Kashmiri leaders are in prison?

New Delhi justifies its repressive moves in the occupied territory saying these are necessary for the maintenance of law and order. This is a typical colonial approach. It is now 90 days that Kashmiris have been living in a giant open prison. The Indian government has placed Kashmir under a stifling lockdown since August 5, and it continues till date. Kashmir remains cut off from the rest of the world. On August 5, the Modi government scrapped Article 370 that accorded special status to the state. Now the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been split in two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

However, efforts by Pakistan on the diplomatic front have proved fruitful and the global community has taken notice of the situation in Kashmir. President Donald Trump, several US legislators, the government of the UK as well as British lawmakers from the opposition, lawmakers from the EU besides many countries from across the world have expressed grave concern on the gross human rights violation in India-occupied Kashmir. Several petitions have been filed in the Indian supreme court challenging the revocation of Article 370. Hearing of the petitions will start this month and decisions are expected in the next few months.

The BJP secured 38% of votes in the 2019 election and 31% in 2014. This means the majority of Indians don’t subscribe to BJP’s views. Saner voices in India are telling Modi to desist from misadventures. Indian intellectuals have been warning the government that Kashmir would prove India’s Vietnam.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2019.

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