Article: Sham polls in IIOJK a ploy to hoodwink the world
Muhammad Sultan Butt
Indian deceitful occupation on IIOJK is replete with worst oppression, deep-rooted conspiracies, economic exploitations, fraud, deception and political manipulations. It has been using all brutal tactics of tyranny and all intrigues at its command to consolidate its illegal occupation, muzzle the voice of freedom loving Kashmiris and mislead the world opinion. Although elections are the best way to choose representatives in democratic societies, India uses it as a tool to deceive people. India who claims to be the largest democracy in the world is actually a colonial power who only believes in Hindu supremacy. Its hegemonic and expansionist designs are a threat to world peace, especially in the South Asian region.
Following the footsteps of ancient colonial masters India uses brute force to suppress and subjugate the genuine aspirations of the freedom lovers and to sell lies to the world community to pall brutalities. It emerged as a colonial power after the British sailed across the Indian Ocean and occupied Jammu and Kashmir against all the canons of Indian Independence Act, according to which Jammu and Kashmir never qualified to be a part of India. To perpetuate its occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, it used various tactics. To justify the landing of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir, it first took the issue to the United Nations in 1947. The United Nations passed two resolutions in 1948 and 1949, granting the right to self- determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan agreed to adhere to the resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council.
However, India back-tracked from its commitment and did not allow people to exercise their right to self determination legitimately accrued to them. It has been using elections as a tool to prolong its hold, hide its crimes, mislead the world and befool its own people. This sham practice was started in 1951 and continues till date.
To prejudice the UN resolutions of August 13, 1948 and January 5, the first Constituent Assembly was made by the Indian protégé through fraudulent elections in 1951 in Kashmir. The evil intention was to present this shameful exercise as a substitute to plebiscite at international level. India’s action provoked another resolution at the United Nations. On March 21, 1951 the United Nations adopted a resolution declaring any action of the constituent Assembly vis-a-vis the status of Jammu and Kashmir ultra vires. The resolution in clear cut terms laid that any action that assembly might attempt to determine the future shape, affiliation of the entire State or any part thereof would not constitute a disposition of the State “in accordance with the principles accepted by both the parties in the Security Council. This resolution was passed after India gave a solemn assurance to the UN to this effect. In total violation of the United Nations resolutions and its own commitment the Government of India not only held sham elections for the Constituent Assembly but started relying on its decisions on the factum of accession in disregard to the United Nations resolutions. The sham elections of 1951were followed by another sham election and yet another sham election. India through these fraudulent polls installed different puppet regimes and used them against their own people. The people of Jammu and Kashmir always rejected these farcical elections and instead chose the path of struggle against Indian occupation.
People of Jammu and Kashmir raised their voice against Indian occupation from day Indian troops landed at Srinagar. To suppress people’s voice, India always procured the services of local quislings and proteges and used brute force against common people.
True to the characteristic of a colonist India started selling lies to the world that all was well in Kashmir, by holding sham elections and installing puppet regimes. Despite selling fake democracy and sham elections to the world India failed to hoodwink world opinion. True to its colonial attitude India has been beating the drum of political process and restoration of democracy to hoodwink international opinion.
Against this imperialist and Colonialist attitude a volatile and determined section of youth started an armed struggle which had overwhelming support of the general masses. This armed struggle has been foisted on our youth because of colonist and expansionist attitude of Government of India and the sole objective of this uneven battle of tiny nation against a mighty power was to draw the attention of the international community towards the ugly and colonial face of the Indian Government in Jammu and Kashmir and to remind them of the pledges made by India to people of Kashmir before international community.
After 1989, Kashmir’s struggle for freedom from Indian occupation was rekindled. People of this tiny nation have been making immense sacrifices. Nearly one hundred thousand people sacrificed their lives, hundreds of thousands received bullet wounds and thousands were disabled. True to the characteristic of a colonist, Indian troops raped thousands of women irrespective of age, torched thousands of houses and raised dwelling after dwelling, village after village to the ground. Indian troops have been carrying out systematic genocide in Kashmir and killing every day more than a score of people with bullets on streets, in custody, in the forture centers and army camps.
To cover up its blood stained hands, the Indian Government has been talking of political process and democracy. To smog happening in Kashmir and corrupt international opinion, the Hindutva regime led by fascist Modi has yet again decided to stage a poll drama. These farcical elections are held after the break of over ten years. During this period the RSS regime has not only scrapped the special status of Kashmir but introduced many anti-Muslim and anti-Kashmir laws to establish Hindu supremacy in the disputed region. Hindutva regime which is hellbent to wipe out Muslims and impose its devilish Hindutva ideology and culture on Kashmiri has taken many steps to manipulate the situation since 5 August 2019.
With the view to convert the Muslim majority and minority thousands of Indian Hindus were issued domiciles of the occupied region with the intention of settling them permanently in Kashmir. Secondly
non-state Hindus were given the right to vote and employment and they were appointed to all high government posts.
Thirdly, many electoral changes were made to facilitate RSS led parties in the upcoming sham polls. These Elections are held under the shadow of over a million Indian occupation troops, which political scientists say is nothing more than a façade. Another fact is that APHC leadership which embodies the aspirations of the Kashmiri people remain behind bars and denied political and other rights.
Post-2019 changes in the disputed region are aimed to reshape the region’s electoral and demographic landscape and manipulative electoral reforms in disputed areas strip the region of genuine political representation. Increasing LG (lieutenant governor) powers marks a further step to disenfranchise the people of Kashmir and expanded LG powers undermine the authority of any future elected govt in the region. The temporary voting rights for outsiders further undermine political autonomy.
The 2020 gerrymandering in IIOJK is aimed to dilute Muslim political influence and it serves to marginalize Muslim voices and shift political power to Jammu. New domicile laws and electoral changes threaten the demographic fabric and demographic engineering reflects the Modi govt’s agenda to alter the region’s identity. Shame elections under occupation in IIOJK are widely seen as a strategy to mask state-led repression and an attempt to legitimize occupation.
APHC the sole representative amalgam which represents the wishes and aspirations of Kashmir believe that polls in the region cannot replace true self-determination for Kashmiris and Modi govt’s electoral tactics are aimed at legitimizing the 2019 illegal abrogation. APHC’s principle stand is that no election could be free & fair in IIOK in the presence of about one million occupation troops and it is nothing more than an army operation. India’s sole aim to hold elections is to fortify its illegal occupation. Holding election drama is also aimed at projecting a false sense of normalcy in the territory which is far from reality. APHC has made it clear that individuals involved in elections are aligning with Indian priorities, not the genuine hopes of Kashmiris.
APHC leadership has made it clear that the Modi regime will not win Kashmiri hearts by arresting APHC leaders or banning pro-freedom parties. Detaining APHC leaders will not sever the Kashmiri people’s commitment to the freedom movement. Modi must understand that ideas cannot be suppressed or imprisoned through forceful measures. Kashmiris remain resolute in advancing their freedom struggle with unwavering determination. Kashmiris offer sacrifices not for elections but UN sanctioned plebiscite. Staging polls can’t change the disputed nature of Kashmir.
Note: The writer of this article is Insaf Party J&K vice chairman and APHC-AJK chapter leader
