Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370
After the abrogation of Article 370, the government claimed normalcy has returned. They also went on to claim that people in Kashmir are celebrating the landmark decision made in the Parliament. They made a PR stunt by sending National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the valley. He was seen interacting with the public who were ‘happy’ with the decision. This was happening when elected leaders representing the political parties of India were sent back.
The claim of normalcy was made in spite of strict curfew and communication restrictions imposed in the valley against the democratic rights of the people. Most mainstream media has been peddling the same agenda set by the Government of India.
However, there are reports coming in and out of Kashmir that the reality is in stark contrast to the one spread in the country. Here are the links to some of the reports.
“A police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters news agency that 10,000 people attended the protest. The protesters gathered in Srinagar’s Soura area and were pushed back to the Aiwa bridge, the officer said”
India which ranks 140 in World Press Freedom has still a long way to go to ensure freedom for journalists. Journalists were told to remove video footages of protests. Some were even denied access to ask questions to the people in the valley.
“I was surrounded by policemen in the old city and forced to delete all videos of protests,” Shafat Ahmad, a stringer of the BBC, told The Hindu.
Stories of young men resorting to terrorism have started emerging from various corners. BBC managed to talk to them to understand their plight.
“This is my only son. He’s too small now, but I will prepare him to pick up a gun too.”
Siddharth Varadarajan of ‘The Wire” met patients who suffered pellet injuries while heading for work. The stories if heard with an ‘open heart’ will make you cringe.
Quint also managed to speak to the locals who are totally against the Government which took the decision without even consulting them.
The daughter of ex-Chief Minister of Kashmir wants citizens of India to speak up for them. She still doesn’t have any whereabouts of her mother who has been detained by the security forces. An emotional daughter questions the hardliners and supporters of the Government decision.
Those who are criticising the Congress and the DMK for not going with the popular mood of the country, tell me, if the nation is in the mood to lynch, will you be up for that too?
A young Kashmiri who works in Delhi spoke to Brut on how she isn’t able to reach her family in Kashmir.
Apparently, some of the BJP leaders have openly said abrogating Article 370 will help men outside Kashmir to marry Kashmiri women. Now that’s a new low by a Chief Minister of a state.
The Indian government still denies reports of protest in the valley and the Indian Media seems to be facing a complete blackout. Even ANI seems to be reporting mostly pictures depicting “normalcy’. The Quint managed to verify the facts and it might shed some light.
Editors Guild of India has written a strongly worded letter to the Government of India to let the journalist report free and fair of happenings in the valley and to ensure freedom to journalists equal to the ones available to any citizen in India
The imprudence in creating an unfair distinction in the treatment: for access, curfew passes, communication between local journalists and those coming in to report from outside” and emphasised that “all journalists and all Indian citizens are entitled to equal freedoms”.
If one thinks Editors Guild has gone too far in condemning the suppression of freedom of media in the valley. One needs to read the first-hand story of a journalist
More reports of unhappy Kashmiri are emerging, Huffington Post managed to speak to one of the residents who had voted in the elections. Things are getting murkier as the day goes.
The New York Times also managed to speak to the local residents and brought a story from inside Kashmir
Tourism has hit badly in Kashmir with the clampdown of services by the Government. The ordeal is so bad that a hotel advance booking of Rs 35 lakhs stands canceled, narrates Danish Farooq. The report also shows a rise in the number of deaths since the Modi government came to power in 2014.
On a brighter side, the curfew has been lifted and relaxed in some districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Wire has been reporting from the ground despite all difficulties. They were able to record reactions from Srinigar.
Journalism has taken the brunt of the communication blackout in Kashmir. New York Time article provides first-hand information from the ground on how journalists track down news the old fashioned away. A newspaper worth 500 copies were sold under five minutes.
Mani Shankar Aiyar was criticized for who his largely critical opinion piece he wrote in the newspaper.
Meanwhile, security agencies have found thousands of handles on Twitter created for spreading fake news. They have asked Twitter to shut them down.
Ex- Congress President Rahul Gandhi has taken the challenge from J&K governor to visit Jammu and Kashmir to understand the reality on the ground. Rahul Gandhi had earlier slammed the Government when protests erupted out of Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.
M K Stalin from DMK also demanded an all-party delegation to be sent to Kashmir.
The Government of India has left no stone unturned, they have made huge plans for Independence Day Celebrations with tricolor to be flown high at Lal Chowk.
Home Minister Amit Shah might attend the Independence Day Celebrations.
Reliance Industries plans to set-up a task force to for development activities in Kashmir. Mukesh Ambani announced the plan while addressing an audience at the Annual General Meeting.
Well, this might be embarrassing for Ajit Doval.
Pictures of protest are the proof one needs to see.
Talking about Kashmir also has it's after-effects.
A special story shot by a team from Delhi gives you a chilling account of an 11-year-old.
Things in Kashmir had always been worse. The inhuman use of pellet guns is hardly reported by Indian media. This is an old report from the Guardian. This will explain how the forces will get more rigor, now that they are directly controlled by Delhi.
The story will be updated as and when more stories emerge about Kashmir.
Stay tuned.
