Silencing the voices of dissent

With every passing day, the Indian militancy in Indian-held Kashmir is touching new heights. The state-sponsored violence is gaining momentum day by day. Ever since the killing of Burhan Wani, there is a continuous increase in violence in the held valley. Indian forces are using every known cruelty and trick in the book to muzzle the freedom struggle in the occupied valley. A week ago, the Indian army violated all human rights when it tied a young shawl-weaver with the hood of an army vehicle and used him as a human shield. The video of the man went viral on social media inviting scathing condemnation from around the world. Now, consequently, the forces have put a ban on social media websites to veil their inhumane atrocities in the valley. Silencing the voices of dissent is a common trait of repressive regimes and the BJP-led government in India is no exception.

The unlawful annexation of Kashmir by India endorses the saying ‘might is right’. India claim itself the largest democracy in the world. Is it befitting for the largest democratic state to gun down the dissenting voices so mercilessly? Furthermore, it is also the moral obligation of the human rights organisations to put pressure on India to resolve the Kashmir issue through free, fair and transparent plebiscite. Only with the settlement of the Kashmir issue, the two nuclear states, Pakistan and India, will come to terms with each other.

Muhammad Fayyaz

Mianwali