Imagine a state in the comity of nations that takes immense
pride in being the largest democracy but when it comes to the rights of
minorities the whole notion shatters. India is a classical model of a state that
is utilizing its whole strength to generate a false narrative of being relevant
and commendable. From defeats in battlefield to human rights abuses, in Indian
Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), or elsewhere, India is trying to
hide its real face through systematic disinformation campaigns. However, the
strategy of camouflaging vileness and weakness cannot continue forever. The
world has recognized that India is a sham democracy, mired in internal
instability and an unreliable partner on the geopolitical landscape.
On 5 August 2019, India through its illegal and unilateral act not just violated
the international law and made the life of Kashmiris miserable but also pushed
the region into destabilization. Contrary to Modi’s claims that the situation in
IIOJK is returning to normalcy remains deceptive for the international world. In
reality, the actual situation is completely diverse after the revocation of
Articles 370 and 35A. The killing spree and the pervasive fear among civilians,
minorities and other soft targets gives false claim to the Indian government
that they are successful in IIOJK. India is relying increasingly on its army and
illegal laws to suppress the voice of Kashmiris. Currently, India keeps almost
one million troops in Kashmir, making it the most militarized zone in the world.
These heftily deployed Indian troops have been involved in crimes against
humanity.
Next came the even more controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, a law that
revokes the citizenship of Muslim immigrants to India. As millions gathered on
the streets to protest this move across India, Modi doubled down on his bet. He
allowed his right-wing party goons to terrorize, torture and lynch Muslims.
People, across the world, started to recognize that Modi is racist, anti-Muslim,
and anti-minorities. The resulting clashes, especially in and around Delhi,
displaced hundreds of thousands of minority individuals particularly Muslims
from their homes, which had been burnt to the ground by Hindutva goons.
Overnight, the minorities became the largest group of internally displaced
people in Asia. India's sham secularism stands exposed in all its shame.
Moreover, redrawing electoral constituencies is a tool to serve Hindu political
interests in IIOJK. Delimitation exercise is just a formality giving more seats
to the Hindu-majority Jammu was preplanned. India has snatched away every right
of Kashmiri Muslims, using electoral redistricting to make their majority
ineffective. Pakistan parliament has also passed resolution to denounce the
delimitation exercise. This brazen effort is a direct attack on the democratic
rights of Kashmiris particularly Muslims; it exposes India's true face to the
regional and international power corridor. Delimitation exercise is clearly in
contravention of UN resolutions that's only purpose is to disempower Muslims.
Modi must remember that no amount of gerrymandering will change the ground
reality.
Therefore, erasing Kashmiris' political identity, disempowering the Muslim
majority community to reduce them to second-class citizens, turning them into a
political minority, and minimizing their role in the political decision-making
process are the most vivid signs and processes of genocide that should serve as
an eye-opener for the world community. After unleashing a reign of terror in
IIOJK, the fascist Indian regime was now shamelessly playing the religious card
to get its communal agenda implemented in the occupied territory. A certain
section of the Kashmiri Pundit community under a nefarious agenda was ready to
become pawns in the BJP's chessboard of power and politics. However, a silent
majority of Pundits within and outside the Kashmir Valley knew fully well how
the right-wing forces were using them as pawns.
The Indian government has held Kashmiris hostage by the dint of force and using
colonial-era tactics to suppress the Kashmiris' legitimate struggle. The recent
Indian court's verdict against JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik is also a
politically-motivated agenda to silence the dissenting voices in the occupied
territory. India should understand no amount of oppression and use of force can
break the will of the valiant Kashmiri people who are resolutely standing up
against India's state terrorism and struggling for their inalienable right to
self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Therefore, it will remain India's distinct dream to suppress the Kashmiri voices
as much they will suppress Kashmiri voices would arise more and more.
(The author is MPhil in Peace and Conflict Studies)