Srinagar: Political analysts and civil society activists in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have expressed concern over the alarming developments in the territory since August 2019, when the Modi-led Indian regime initiated a series of measures to disempower and disenfranchise Kashmiris.
According to Kashmir Media Service, analysts and activists in their media inerviews in Srinagar said, these actions have led to a systematic erosion of the region’s political, constitutional, cultural, and economic autonomy.
The Modi regime, they added, is enforcing a process of disempowerment, targeting educational institutions to undermine Kashmir’s unique cultural heritage. This has resulted in a loss of identity and cultural diversity, as Kashmiris struggle to preserve their history and traditions.
“Modi’s regime has utilized propaganda to reshape the narrative around Kashmir, ignoring its historical context and promoting a distorted version of events. This has been achieved through various means, including Bollywood films that perpetuate Islamophobic tropes and demonize Kashmiris,” said a renowned political analyst requesting to be anonymous.
“Economic initiatives launched under the guise of development have benefited outsiders while sidelining local communities. This has led to widespread resentment among Kashmiris, who feel their land is being exploited and their rights ignored,” remarked a local civil society activist.
Civil society activists asserted that Muslims belonging to every class, sect, or ethnicity in occupied Kashmir are targets of the Hindutva policy. This has resulted in a climate of fear and intimidation, with many Kashmiris feeling their very existence is under threat.
As India continues to illegally alter the demography of Indian occupied Kashmir in violation of UN resolutions and international laws, political analysts and civil society activists urged the international community to recognize the urgency of the situation. They demanded advocacy for the rights of Kashmiris under occupation and an end to Modi’s anti-Kashmir policies.
