New amendments to reduce assembly to municipal council as India tightens grip on Kashmir
#ConsolidatingKashmirOccupation
Srinagar: Political experts on Kashmir believe the latest amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act of 2019 are a deliberate attempt by the Indian government, led by Narendra Modi, to consolidate its illegal control over the occupied territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, these changes aim to centralize power in the hands of the Lieutenant Governor, effectively disenfranchising Kashmiris and solidifying New Delhi’s grip on the region.
This move comes almost four years after the revocation of Article 370, which had granted special status to the territory. By granting the LG control over key sectors, India seeks to suppress Kashmiri resistance and maintain its stranglehold on the political landscape.
The people of Kashmir feel disenfranchised and subjected to colonial rule, with the deployment of forces and surveillance exacerbating tensions.
The reduced Assembly will have limited powers, akin to a Municipal council, undermining democratic aspirations in the occupied territory. The Indian government’s actions are seen as a systematic effort to disempower Kashmiris politically, constitutionally, culturally, and economically.
