Kashmiri lives Also Matter
subjected to extreme violence over the past few weeks. We have lost nearly 50 of our fellow Indians for no reason. Several hundred people have suffered injuries. Communal tensions have been stoked and flames of religious intolerance fanned by unruly sections of our society, including the political class. University campuses, public places and private homes are bearing the brunt of communal outbursts of violence, reminiscent of the dark periods in India’s history. Institutions of law and order have abandoned their dharma (duty) to protect citizens. Institutions of justice and the fourth pillar of democracy, the media, have also failed us. Just in a matter of few years, India has slid rapidly from being a global showcase of a model of economic development through liberal democratic methods to a strife ridden majoritarian state in economic despair.”
It is pertinent to mention that even the UN rights chief in Delhi Michelle Bechelet moved the Indian Supreme Court against the controversial legislation passed by the Indian parliament by becoming third party in a petition brought by a former civil servant.
The hate philosophy against Muslims within India has had its spill over to Muslim Pakistan. India has adopted a belligerent posture towards Pakistan as is evident from her continued violations of the ceasefire line and the indiscretion of sending its planes to Balakot to hit the imaginary terrorist camps on 26 February last year which nearly brought the two nations to the brink of war. The escalation was averted due to the restraint shown by Pakistan and the timely intervention of friendly countries.
India is using these tactics to cover up the state terrorism that it has unleashed against the people of IO&JK not realizing that it could have very serious repercussions for peace and security in the region. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan beginning from his address to the UN General Assembly last year has been sensitizing the world about the dangers lurking on the horizons due to the actions of Indian regime in IO&JK and its burgeoning animosity against Pakistan in pursuance of the supremacist RSS ideology of Hindutva. As the killing spree and complete lockdown continues the people of IO&JK while resisting the Indian oppression are looking up to the UN and the international community to come to their rescue through concrete actions to stop India in her tracks instead of showing muffled concerns over the developing situation in the state, realizing that the Kashmiri lives also matter..