05 August Youm Istehsal –e- Kashmir

Malik Husnain
For an extended period, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has harbored ambitions to alter the constitutional status of Kashmir, facilitating the settlement of non-state extremist Hindus in the region. This long-gestated plan came to fruition on August 5, 2019, when Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution were abrogated. These articles had previously enshrined Kashmir’s unique identity, preventing non-state individuals from purchasing land or property in the region. The BJP’s actions have initiated a demographic transformation aimed at furthering their political agenda by establishing a foothold for extremist Hindus. Following the Indian government’s initiative on August 5, 2019, over 4 million non-state Hindus were granted domicile in Jammu and Kashmir. This move stands in stark violation of United Nations resolutions, which mandate that the Kashmir issue be resolved through a plebiscite reflecting the will of the Kashmiri people—a process India has continually obstructed. India is acutely aware that its forcible occupation, coupled with rampant cruelty and brutality, has rendered it unpalatable to the people of Occupied Kashmir, who resist any association with India. Consequently, the abrogation of Kashmir’s special constitutional status marks a strategic maneuver to populate the region with extremist Hindus. On August 5, 2019, the already illegally stationed Indian forces imposed a de facto military siege across Occupied Kashmir, a situation that persists in various forms, severely restricting the Kashmiri populace’s freedom. These illegal actions were met with unanimous rejection by the Kashmiris. To stifle their dissent, the Indian government has systematically denied fundamental human rights, imposed an economic blockade, and confined people to their homes. Leaders of the Hurriyat Conference were placed under house arrest, and the youth were imprisoned to quash any resistance through coercion. August 5, 2023, marked the fifth anniversary of Modi’s constitutional transgressions, observed as Black Day or Kashmir Exploitation Day. This commemoration aims to expose Modi’s constitutional terrorism and the Indian government’s illegal actions to the global community. As in previous years, Pakistanis and Kashmiris worldwide raised their voices in protest, organizing processions and rallies. The international community must exert increased pressure on India to restore basic human rights to the Kashmiris. The Kashmir issue transcends territorial disputes; it is fundamentally about the right of the indigenous people to self-determination—a right stripped from them. This is not merely a religious issue but a humanitarian one, affecting Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and other communities in Kashmir who yearn to live freely. On August 5, Kashmiris and Pakistanis, both in Azad Kashmir and abroad, observed Black Day. Political leaders, religious parties, social organizations, and human rights activists united in protest, highlighting India’s illegal occupation and the denial of Kashmiri autonomy. The fascist policies of the Modi government were laid bare through these demonstrations. This year, on Kashmir Istehsal Day, leaders across the political spectrum, social figures, religious leaders, and social media activists voiced their condemnation of India’s actions, urging the masses to join the protests.