MODI Government’s attempt to portray an impression of life returning to normalcy in the Occupied Kashmir received a blow as the European Union refused to take part in a diplomatic visit to the occupied territory because they will not be allowed to meet detained politicians. The Ambassadors of the Bloc turned down the offer of the Indian Government to become part of the guided tour to the region insisting that they want to visit the area independently and meet people on their own free choice.
Irrespective of the intentions of New Delhi the fact remains that arrangement of a scripted propaganda tour where participants were briefed at the Army Headquarters in Srinagar and not allowed to meet any one on their own is manifestation of all is not well in Occupied Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims the move was to boost the local economy and end, what he calls, violence that has left tens of thousands dead but the objectives cannot be achieved by hoodwinking the international public opinion. The situation in Occupied Kashmir, where entire population has stood up to resist illegal annexation of the territory and draconian measures introduced to suppress voice of the people, would not change until and unless Modi Government reviews its policies and repressive actions. The Occupied Kashmir has been under severe restrictions including one of the world’s longest internet shutdowns and people are not allowed to move freely, interact with each other and carry out their routines. Thousands of people were arrested in the wake of annexation of the area fearing severe backlash and many of them are being subjected to torture. It is because of the precarious ground situation that India is not allowing journalists access to the territory and has flatly refused to allow independent missions including those from OIC and human rights organizations to visit the area and see for themselves the plight of the people and their reaction to Indian moves. Modi Government instead of resorting to window dressing should change its policies that, in the words of the country’s former national security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, have resulted into diplomatic isolation for New Delhi. According to him, revocation of special status of Jammu & Kashmir and adoption of new citizenship law (which is discriminatory to 180 million Muslims) have caused foreign disgust and concern. Under these circumstances, it would be difficult for Modi to stick to his agenda of expansionism and Hindutva ideology for long without serious repercussions for survival of a divisive power. We appreciate decision of EU not to become part of a misguided strategy to present falsehood before the world which is reflective of its concern for human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir.
