Locals decry BJP-RSS attempts to alter Kashmir’s identity, term move a grave threat
#KashmirCharacterAtRisk
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, locals have voiced serious concern over systematic efforts by the BJP-led Indian regime to alter the territory’s demographic and cultural identity, warning that Kashmir’s distinct character is at grave risk.
According to Kashmir Media Service, when approached by a foreign media outlet on the issue, the residents from different parts of the territory complained that the agenda pursued under the leadership of Narendra Modi is aimed at undermining the Muslim identity of Kashmir and reviving a pre-Islamic narrative to reshape the IIOJK’s historical and cultural fabric.
Locals said that the settlement of non-locals in the territory is part of a broader design to change the Muslim-majority status of Jammu and Kashmir. They expressed fear that such measures are being used as tools to dilute Kashmiris’ identity and weaken their internationally recognized right to self-determination.
Referring to the events of August 5, 2019, when India revoked the special status of the territory, the residents termed the move a turning point that accelerated efforts to engineer demographic changes. They described the move as an act of dispossession and humiliation, adding that it continues to fuel resentment among Kashmiris.
“Preserving our identity is not just a cultural issue but a matter of survival for us,” several locals said, emphasizing that ongoing policies are eroding their social, political, and religious foundations. They further stated that the Modi government’s policies are in clear violation of international norms and United Nations resolutions, which recognize the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir and the right of its people to determine their future.
Political analysts and civil society members also echoed these concerns, warning that any attempt to alter the demographic composition of a disputed territory could have serious consequences for regional peace and stability. They urged the international community to take notice of the situation and press India to halt such measures.
The locals appealed to global human rights organizations and the United Nations to intervene and ensure the protection of Kashmir’s unique identity, stressing that continued silence would only embolden further actions aimed at changing the region’s demographic reality.
