Daily Times

It is probably ingrained in BJP leaders’ psyche to do things with a ‘grab and stab’ approach.

They are always finding opportunities to grab (others’ territories) to fulfill their petty, orthodox dream of ‘Akhand Bharat’ (Great, Grand India) the manifestation of which was witnessed recently, as well, in the shape of Galwan Valley conflict with China. In this military adventure, Indians had to cut a sorry figure and it was also a major setback to Modi Sarkar’s reliance on the strategy of bullying and intimidation.

Likewise, they are always pursuing the policy of stabbing (read subduing) the unlikeable people like low-caste Hindus and minorities which do not fall in the category of the like-minded ones, given the odd peculiarities of dominating Hindus’ ideology.

Actually, the influential categories of people, like Brahmins or others of their ilk in the Hindu-dominated India are inspired by the philosophy of Hindutva that preaches zero tolerance for non-Hindus. RSS, which is the spiritual guru of BJP and known worldwide for its violent ways, adheres to the same philospophy of zero tolerance for non-Hindus whereas their extreme hatred for Muslims, knows no bounds. However, quite paradoxically, even a very large number of Hindus are despised by those adhering to the superior-caste Brahmin ideology. When the situation is so inhuman where ‘lowly ones’ from their own religion like Shoodras and Dalits are maltreated, what can one expect from these ‘superior ones’ when it comes to treating the Muslims of India in general and of the ‘vanquished Kashmir’ in particular.

Following the repeal of this Article, a sizeable chunk of non-Kashmiris including non-Muslims are being settled there besides being given the rights to buy property

How the hell has been let loose on the harmless Kashmiri Muslims living in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) during the reign of BJP which has surpassed all the previous New Delhi governments in curbing genuine demand of Kashmiris for plebiscite according to UN Security Council resolutions.

This plebiscite, to allow Kashmiris to exercise their fundamental, natural right of self-determination, was pledged at the international forum by the then Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. This solemn commitment was trumpeted by the Indian side in such a manner that, at one point of time, the world got convinced that the state of India understands the falsity of the so-called Kashmir Accession (to India) document for which it was ready to expiate the UN way.

Nothing doing! Seven decades gone but there has not been an iota of indication coming from the Indian side in the direction of any plebiscite.

Instead, all the governments of New Delhi have been using different methodologies to consolidate illegal Qabza (occupation) of Kashmir. That included installation of puppet ‘democratic’ state governments in IOJ&K, sham and engineered elections, mass killings, mass rapes and imprisonments, promulgation of draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) empowering Indian troops to abduct and detain Kashmiris without producing them in courts, even for a period extending to two long years in illegal detentions. A large number of these illegal detainess never returned to their homes. However, the subsequent discovery of mass graves revealed the story of bloodbath in the Valley of Kashmir.

While the BJP government continued pursuing all these policies of naked aggression and oppression, it crossed all civilized limits and violated universal standards of fair play on August 5, last year by giving a full-fledged (un-)constitutional cover to the Accession to India, of Occupied Kashmir.

The special status conferred on Kashmir under Article 370 was revoked. Keen watchers of Kashmir situation say that it was nothing but complete bulldozing of Indian Constitution as well as the spirit of the Constitution. This unconstitutional revocation is totally violation of the UNSC resolutions that require a plebiscite to be held, recognizing the fact that Kashmir is a disputed territory. How then can India usurp this right of plebiscite through unfair means.

Apart from Article 370, Article 35 A has also been revoked. According to this Article, people outside Kashmir were neither allowed to settle in Kashmir nor buy properties there. But now, following the repeal of this Article, a sizeable chunk of non-Kashmiris including non-Muslims are being settled there besides being given the rights to buy property.

As if these unconstitutional moves were not enough, Indian troops have intensified the use of brute force against innocent Kashmiris who are now facing the worst times, even much worse than the days when they would be kidnapped, their women gang-raped and youth tortured to death, not mentioning the indiscriminate use of pellet guns.

Ever since this ominous day, August 5, IOJ&K is under total siege so much so that the virtually imprisoned (in their houses) Kashmiris can’t move freely for transporting their sick relatives to hospitals. And reports have also come that some people had to bury their near and dear ones in the backyards of their houses. And, as for the communication blockade, that too is quite stringent as if the people of Kashmir were living in medieval ages ruled by tyrants.

The writer is a senior journalist and TV analyst