Kashmir, a valley known as the ‘Heaven on Earth’ has been turned into a living hell for its people and has been at the heart of a protracted conflict since 1947, when British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. As a princely state, Jammu and Kashmir had the choice to accede to either nation, but sadly Kashmiris where never given a choice to make this decision.
The issue of racial and religious discrimination against Kashmiris, who are predominantly Muslims, has remained a major concern, particularly in light of India’s efforts to impose Hindu supremacy in the region. For more than seven decades, Kashmiris have endured human rights violations, oppression, and systematic marginalization, with their plight worsening under India’s Hindutva-driven policies.
The Promotion of Hindu Supremacy by India
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), advocate Hindutva, a supremacist ideology that seeks to establish Hindu dominance in India. This ideology has significantly influenced India’s policies toward Kashmir, where efforts to alter the region’s demographic and political landscape have been intensifying. The systematic attempt to erase Kashmiri identity, suppress dissent, and enforce Hindu nationalist narratives has become more aggressive in recent years.
A key aspect of India’s policy in Kashmir is the demographic engineering project, which seeks to weaken the Muslim majority status of the region. The introduction of domicile laws following the revocation of Article 370 and 35A has allowed non-Kashmiris, particularly Hindus from other Indian states, to settle in the region, directly threatening its ethnic and religious composition. The move is widely seen as an extension of India’s broader agenda of altering Kashmir’s demographic identity to suppress its historical claim for self-determination.
Decades of Kashmiri Suffering
For over seven decades, Kashmiris have suffered from widespread violence, military occupation, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and systemic discrimination. The Indian military presence in Kashmir is among the highest in the world, with 900,000 troops stationed in the region. This militarization has led to countless human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and mass arrests.
Moreover, Kashmiris have lived under draconian laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which grants the military sweeping powers, including immunity from prosecution for actions taken in the region. Reports from international human rights organizations have documented mass graves, instances of torture, and the use of pellet guns against protestors, which have blinded thousands of young Kashmiris.
Restriction on Religious Practices
Kashmiri Muslims have faced curbs on religious gatherings, with security forces preventing congregational prayers during significant Islamic events such as Eid and Muharram. In a controversial move, authorities even banned Eid prayers at major mosques, including Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid. The crackdown extended to Islamic literature as well; in 2025, Indian authorities raided bookstores and seized over 650 books, including works by prominent Islamic scholars, under allegations of promoting banned ideologies.
Beyond religious suppression, the cultural identity of Kashmiris is under threat. The promotion of Hindi and Sanskrit over Kashmiri and Urdu has been seen as an attack on local linguistic heritage. Likewise, censorship of Kashmiri music, poetry, and art has intensified, with many artists facing restrictions and threats for producing works critical of government policies.
These policies, widely perceived as cultural erasure, continue to fuel Kashmiri resistance and calls for self-determination.
The Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A: Intensified Oppression
On August 5, 2019, India unilaterally revoked Article 370 and Article 35A of its constitution, which had granted Jammu and Kashmir special autonomy and protected its demographic integrity. This move was widely condemned as an illegal annexation aimed at further suppressing the Kashmiri’s. Following the abrogation, the Indian government imposed a strict lockdown, shutting down communications, detaining political leaders, and using excessive force to quell any resistance. Following the revocation of Article 370 and 35A in 2019, India initiated measures that have systematically altered the demographic and cultural fabric of the Muslim-majority region. Critics argue that these actions are part of a broader agenda to dilute Kashmiri Muslim identity and enforce Hindu nationalist control.
One of the most alarming aspects of this policy shift has been the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, which significantly weakened local governance and political representation for Kashmiri Muslim. Additionally, the government has taken control over religious institutions, including Waqf properties, which manage Islamic shrines and mosques. These changes have heightened concerns that the state is actively eroding Muslim religious influence in the region.
The abrogation of these constitutional provisions has opened the floodgates for demographic change and economic exploitation.
Media Censorship and Suppression of Dissent
One of the most alarming aspects of India’s control over Kashmir is the suppression of press freedom and dissent. Journalists in Kashmir face harassment, arrests, and censorship, making it nearly impossible to report on ground realities. Many prominent Kashmiri journalists and human rights activist have been charged under draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), which allows indefinite detention without trial. The silencing of independent voices in Kashmir is part of India’s broader attempt to control the narrative and prevent the global community from witnessing the atrocities being committed.
Conclusion
Despite numerous reports from organizations such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, the international community has largely remained inactive regarding the plight of Kashmiris. The abrogation of Article 370 was met with international criticism, but concrete actions against India’s human rights violations have been largely absent. The failure of global powers to hold India accountable has emboldened the Indian government to continue its oppressive policies in Kashmir without fear of repercussions.
The Kashmir conflict is not just a territorial dispute, it is a struggle against racial and religious discrimination imposed by a Hindutva-driven regime that seeks to erase Kashmir’s Muslim identity. Without international intervention and recognition of their right to self-determination, Kashmiris will continue to suffer under an oppressive system that seeks to erase their identity and suppress their resistance.
