100 days of Repression
#SolidarityWithKashmir
Resolution to continue the protest against the turning of Kashmir into a jail.
On 13th November, a protest programme was held against the abrogation of article 370 and 35A, under the joint banner of more than 20 organisations, at Jantar Mantar. The protest programme is a statement against the siege of liberty, equality and justice from the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. The programme at Jantar Mantar was a united voice against the muzzling of democratic legacy of independent India.
The unconstitutional, undemocratic and totalitarian decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its statehood and its bifurcation into union territories without taking into confidence its citizens, legislative assembly, political parties, and groups, as well as the communication blockade, suspension of human rights, and the arrest of civil society leaders and youth, was condemned. Many speakers at the protest programme expressed their solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They jointly stressed on the fact that it's been 100 days since the siege of Jammu Kashmir by the Union of India without the will and consent of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
During the protest, slogans were raised of “Restore democracy in Kashmir!”, “Restore communication in Kashmir!” and “Division of Jammu and Kashmir not acceptable!”.
The programme was chaired by Professor Anand Kumar and was moderated by Dr. Suneelam and Maimoona Mollah. A photo exhibition on the 100 days siege of Jammu and Kashmir was inaugurated by Subhashini Ali, former member of parliament.
The programme was addressed by Mr. Sharad Yadav (Loktantrik Janata Dal), Subhashini Ali (AIDWA), Prof. Rajkumar Jain, Prof. Anand Kumar, Vijay Pratap (Samajwadi Samagam), Manju Mohan (Socialist Party India), Tapan (PIPFPD), Ritu Kaushik (AIMSS), Sucharita (PMS), Nandita Narayan (Citizen Against War), Priyadarshini (DSG), Ani Raja (NFIW), Sanjeev Kumar (DASAM), Bhoopendra Rawat (NAPM), Dr. A.K Arun (B.B.P.P.F), Jaishankar Gupt (Member of Press Council of India), Atul Anjan (C.P.I), Yadav Reddy (Former M.L.A), Niraj Kumar, Vandana Pandey (Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha), Sunita (Rashtriya Gharelu Kamgaar Union), Ambarish Singh (Forward Block), N.D Pancholi (CSD), Kavita Srivastav (PUCL), Vikram Singh (CPIM), Rushda (NFIW), Anil Thakur (Nagrik Manch), P.J Joshi (Indian solidarity committee for freedom democracy and human rights - INSOCO), Purushottam Sharma (AIKMS), and Anil (Delhi Solidarity Group).
Kamla Bhasin, Harsh Mander, Anil Choudhary, Sunita Dhar, and various other leaders of civil society and human rights groups were present.
The chair, in its address, said that India and its democracy is falling apart in Kashmir. Indian unity is at stake in Kashmir and therefore, a beginning is going to be made, which will begin with a democratic assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. This beginning will be made from Kashmir till Kanyakumari. People who believe in the constitution of India, should stand up with the voice of truth of the situation of Kashmiris.
Discussing the ground reality in Kashmir, Maimoona Mollah said that it's mid-November now with no electricity and no water. How will people live in such a situation? Sajjad Hussain, hailing from Kargil, spoke about the current economic situation of apple farmers in Kargil. Due to heavy presence of military personnel in Kargil; transportation, mobility, and day to day lives of the people of Kashmir have been affected.
Nandita Narayan spoke about the situation on hand in Jammu and Kashmir, especially the suffering of women and children. If one doesn't sympathize with children and women from another community, then they are a 'dhongi'.
A fact-finding report mentioned that, 'A girl in Kashmir narrated about what had happened to her brother and father when she lit a lamp at night to study. Her brother and father were picked up by forces and have not returned home for many days. Nobody knows where they went. Since then out of fear the entire village kept all lights off at night. NFIW representative stressed on the structural violence which is taking place on Kashmiri women. Hundreds of youth are missing in Kashmir. These issues need to reach international platforms.
A need for understanding of history was emphasised. Tapan Da, founder of PIPFPD threw light on the historic conditions under which the creation of article 370 and 35A took place. Whatever has happened to Kashmiri people is a betrayal to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. J&K as an integral part of India was only due to the letter of accession. But there was a promise of referendum and it did not come from the UN. What has been happening for the past 70 years, is a betrayal to the people of Kashmir. Vikram Singh of AIKS underlined that the abrogation of article 370 and 35A is not a decision of the masses, it's a decision of the BJP led government. The people of Jammu and Kashmir should decide where and with whom they would like to live. Without citizen rights, there exists injustice and we will fight against this ideological hegemonic communally decisive politics
Former M.P Subhashini Ali emphasised that not a lot of people have read the history of politics about J&K. They rely on the government's mouthpiece media. Most Indians talk of J&K only as a territory, but what about the people of Jammu and Kashmir? The heavy military presence in J&K is creating a situation of anxiety and stress which is leading to a mental health crisis. A number of people of Kashmir are killed by Indian army personnel. Many women were victims of rape. A dialogue is needed with the people of Kashmir instead of imposing ultra-nationalism.
Today's media is like a lapdog of this government. If everything is fine in Kashmir, then why are pellet injuries being reported? Why many pro-India ex-chief ministers are under house arrest?
There are large numbers of Kashmiri Pandits, who are unhappy with the abrogation of article 370 and 35A. If everything was fine, then why people and MPs and MLAs from mainland India are not allowed in Kashmir, but the government gets delegates from EU, from far-right parties and facilitates their visit? But at least those people have the wisdom to speak the truth and said that they could not meet anyone in Kashmir.
The Modi government sent members of European parties subscribing to the ideology of Mussolini and Hitler to Kashmir but stops its own M.Ps. This is disrespecting the parliament. History shows us that guns cannot silence ideas. Today our government is practising fascist politics. Any individual criticising the government is being either detained or jailed. Why are democracy and freedom of expression and critical thinking being muzzled in India?
Santosh Kumar discussed how the state is behaving like a terrorist organisation, where it doesn't respect the integrity and dignity of the citizens of this country, after which Jaishankar Gupt highlighted the hidden motives of the BJP government behind the move of abrogation of article 370 and 35A. He said; "The dream of buying land in Kashmir is such a lie. We cannot buy vegetables in Delhi due to price rise how does abrogation of article 370 and 35A will help poor and middle classes of India to buy land. The abrogation was done only for Adani and Ambani.
On 22nd of August it was decided that memebers of Press Council of India will visit Kashmir on a fact-finding mission but were denied permission by the Union of India. In the news recently there was a report about two terrorists being gunned down. Now, how does common people of India know if they were terrorist or normal civilians?
This government tells a bunch of lies about everything. Economic situation of this country is worse than ever, but we will not talk about it. It's time we talk openly without fear about the communal design of the BJP led government.
All constitutional values are being violated, and in such a situation, the judiciary should not be silent. We need to fight against the judicial system of India as well. If the judiciary starts towing the same line as the government, then that judiciary is not an independent judiciary.
The general secretary of LJD, Arun Srivastav said that socialists have always opposed repression. Even today, though socialists might be divided into various political parties, they are standing together against the conversion of Kashmir into a prison and want the restoration of democracy. Former Union Minister, leader of LJD, Sharad Yadav said that in the previous elections in Kashmir, there was 74% voting, but after the BJP government, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have lost their trust in India. NRC is the new issue which is playing divide and rule politics in India.
Dr. Suneelam, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Bharat Pakistan People's Forum said that events for solidarity with Kashmir are being organised across more than 100 venues to let the people of Kashmir know that even if the central government is against them, the progressive civil society groups and socialist leftists stand with them. He informed that Bangladesh Bharat Pakistan People's Forum will organise a Kashmir solidarity march from Jammu to Kashmir between 26th November to 2nd December.
Nazm's in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir were sung at the programme- a nazm written by Faiz Ahmad Faiz - "Aaj Bazar mein pa-ba jaulan chalo" as well as a beautiful nazm of Nazir Akbariabaadi- “woh hai aadimi”
We will fight against these hegemonic practices of the government. We will sing our songs of freedom and resistance for equality, liberty and justice.
Citizens need to voice against injustices which are taking place in Jammu and Kashmir under heavy military presence.
Inquilab Zindabaad.
Samajwadi Samagam, Janwadi Mahila Samiti, AIDWA, PIPFPD, AIMSS, PMS, NTUI, AIUFWP, ANHAD, Citezen Against War, MWF, DSG, NFIW, PUCL, Aman Biradri, CPIM, CPI, NFID, AIDSO, DASAM, NAPM.
