Kashmiris continue to suffer, says Zaira in Instagram post
› Kashmir continues to suffer and see-saw between hope and frustration. There’s a false and uneasy semblance of calmness in place of escalating despair and sorrow.
ZAIRA WASIM, former Bollywood actor
SRINAGAR: Former actor Zaira Wasim on Monday took to Instagram to express her displeasure with the political situation in Kashmir on Monday.
The Dangal actress, who hails from Kashmir, penned a long note on the social networking site saying that Kashmir continues to suffer and see-saw between hope and frustration.
“There is a false and uneasy semblance of calmness in place of escalating despair and sorrow. Kashmiris continue to exist and suffer in a world where it is so easy to place restrictions on our liberty. Why do we have to live in a world where our lives and wills are controlled, dictated and bent? Why is it so easy to have our voices silenced? Why is it so easy to curtail our freedom of expression? Why aren’t we ever allowed to voice our opinions, let alone our disapprovals to decisions that are made contrary to our wishes?” she wrote .
Wasim’s comments come six months after the special status of J&K was revoked and a communication
embargo was imposed . Low speed mobile internet services were restored in Kashmir on January 25 with access to around 329 websites.
Though access to social media sites has been blocked, Kashmiris have been increasingly bypassing the ban through the use of VPNs (virtual private networks) They have been increasingly taking to social media to voice their opinions. “What is so easy to curb our voices so severely? Why can we not live simple lives without always having to wrestle and remind the world of our existence? Why that life of a Kashmiri is just about experiencing a lifetime of crisis, blockade and disturbance
so abundantly that it has taken away the recognition of normalcy and harmony from the hearts and minds?” the 19-yearold asked.
She wrote, “But I ask the world, what has altered your acceptance of the misery and oppression we’re being subjected to? Do not believe the unfair representation of the facts and details or the rosy hue that the media has cast on the reality of the situation. Ask questions, re-examine the biased assumptions. Ask questions. For our voices have been silenced- and for how long .... none of us really know!” ‘interfering with her ‘iman’ (faith).