Occupied Kashmir, like Palestine, is a region in which power and arrogance have been trampling humanity since the last century and the so-called human rights institutions are sitting as spectators. In the partition of India, the principle was decided that the states which belong to the sub-continent If they want to join either country, they will have the right to do so.

The Kashmiris approved the resolution to join Pakistan, but Hindu Raja Hari Singh of Kashmir not only joined India, but also invited the Indian army to Kashmir.

The Pakistani tribals resisted and it was close to reaching Srinagar that Pandit Nehru took this matter to the United Nations, whose resolutions India seems to flout day by day. Two days ago, three Kashmiris died due to the worst violence of the Indian army while in custody.  According to the Associated Press, the army arrested eight civilians for questioning after the attack on two army vehicles in Poonch on Thursday. When videos of the torture of detained civilians went viral, there was a public outcry, after which internet services were shut down, a common tactic in Occupied Kashmir to quell potential protests.

Indian Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Sunil Bartwal said that we have no information regarding the three deaths.

Though such human rights violations have been going on in Kashmir for decades, but since August 5, 2019 , thereis unprecedented rise in such crimes. In fact, August 5, 2019 is the darkest day in the history of the region when the Modi government abrogated Article 35A and Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Under these articles, Occupied Kashmir had a special constitutional status and its identity was different from other Indian states. Contrary to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, there has been an enormous increase in the incidents of violence against Kashmiris, which if not stopped, will be extremely dangerous for regional and global peace. Therefore, wisdom requires that the international community play its role effectively for the Kashmiris' right to self-determination.

Last week,  under the influence of the fascist Hindu ideology based on the violation of human rights and the anti-Muslim policy of Narendra Modi, to end the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir by ignoring the clear resolutions of the United Nations, bilateral agreements, international laws and the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court of India has rejected more than 20 petitions against the government's decision. The adopted the unique logic that Article 370 of the Constitution under which this status was granted was temporary which warrants its repeal, termination of internal autonomy of the state and its complete integration into India andas such this complete integration of it is correct.  Before the court decision, the Indian army was deployed in the entire Occupied Kashmir to crush the strong reaction of the Kashmiri people. The ban on public processions was tightened. Dozens of Kashmiri leaders, including former puppet chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, were arrested or placed under house arrest.  Military posts were established in all small and large towns. Roadblocks were erected and only armored vehicles of the army were patrolled, which is proof that the leadership and people of the occupied state have rejected this decision.  Hurriyat Conference, National Conference and other political parties have termed this decision as murder of justice and announced to continue the freedom struggle.  The government of Pakistan and the political leadership have also rejected this controversial decision and have taken a stand that India cannot take such a unilateral step. Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has announced to raise the decision in all relevant international organizations including the United Nations.  The President of the State, caretaker Prime Minister, leaders of political parties, leaders of public opinion and people have called the decision of the Supreme Court of India contrary to the requirements of justice and the resolutions and decisions of international organizations and said that this controversial decision was expected.  There was hope that maybe the conscience of the Indian judges would wake up and they would consider the wishes of the Kashmiri people, but it has been proven that Muslim hostility is in everyone's throat there.  According to analysts, this decision shows the biasedness of the Supreme Court of India.  The court has tried to benefit Narendra Modi in the upcoming elections by misinterpreting its own constitution.  India is bound to give the right to vote to the Kashmiri people and cannot take any unilateral decisions in this matter without the participation of Pakistan.  India's occupation of Jammu and Kashmir is forced and illegal, which the Kashmiri people will never accept. Even the pro-Indian leaders of occupied Kashmir are now regretting their past, so former chief ministers Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, members of the Indian Parliament Ghulam Nabi Azad and other leaders have strongly condemned the unjust decision of the Supreme Court of India and expressed their determination to continue the freedom struggle.  A strong reaction has been expressed against this decision in Azad Kashmir as well. The Kashmir conflict is an indisputable reality, the only solution of which is a free referendum in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, through which the Kashmiri people have the right to join either Pakistan or India. Until this resolution is implemented, India cannot end the special status of Occupied Kashmir, nor does the decision of the Supreme Court of India have any status. India started its nefarious plan and invited non-Kashmiri Hindus to come to Kashmir and buy land and settle there permanently. These non-Kashmiri Hindus were also offered several concessions for settlement in the held valley.  After this invitation, millions of non-Kashmiri Hindus arrived in Occupied Kashmir and not only illegally occupied the properties of Muslims there, but also obtained official documents of the ownership rights of these lands. So far, about seven lakh non-Kashmiri Hindu families have become owners of lands and houses in Kashmir.  The Modi government, while working on the agenda of its extremist Hindutva organization, is busy trying to sabotage the life of the Muslims and the freedom struggle of Kashmiris by crushing it with cruelty and brutality, We should raise this issues at every international forum and make it clear to the Modi government that terrorism should not be used for diplomatic point scoring. The international community should raise its voice against the violation of human rights in Occupied Kashmir and the right of Kashmiris to self-determination for world peace must be ensured.  BJP will complete 10 years of rule under the leadership of Narendra Modi in 2024. It will not be out of place to call it the worst period for the Kashmiris in occupied valley.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 27 2023

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