Islamabad: Dr. Sheikh Waleed Rasool, an academician and peace activist, has publicly criticized Indian political parties for their policies in Kashmir, accusing them of undermining the Kashmiri people’s rights and autonomy.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a media interview on Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir, Dr. Rasool highlighted how Indian government actions since August 5, 2019, particularly the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, have stripped Kashmiris of their property rights and diminished their self-governance. He asserted that these actions have not quelled the Kashmiri desire for freedom but instead reinforced their resolve to reject India’s illegal occupation.

Dr. Rasool used the occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal to draw attention to the continued struggle of the Kashmiri people for self-determination and to protest the ongoing policies of the Indian government, which he likened to cultural erasure. He sharply criticized the imposition of Hindutva ideology and the Modi government’s efforts to rename places and alter educational curricula in an attempt to change the cultural identity of Kashmir.

He concluded by drawing a stark comparison between the Modi administration’s tactics and historical aggressions, noting that even notorious leaders like Hitler did not attempt such direct alterations to cultural identity. His remarks underscore the deep tensions and grievances held by many Kashmiris under current Indian governance.