Islamabad, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference-Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter, has strongly condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), describing it as an act of insensitivity towards the suffering of Kashmiri people.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Rehmani stated in Islamabad that Modi’s trip to the region was akin to rubbing salt into the wounds of the Kashmiris, who have been enduring oppressive conditions since India revoked the special status of IIOJK in 2019. Rehmani accused the Indian government of misleading the international community by portraying a facade of peace and development in the region, while in reality, he argued, IIOJK has been transformed into a prison for its residents.

Rehmani criticized the Indian government’s claims of economic progress, pointing out the detrimental impact of military-focused infrastructure projects on Kashmir’s agriculture, horticulture, and overall economy. He also highlighted the dismissal of Kashmiri Muslim employees from government services, exacerbating poverty among many families.

The APHC-AJK leader expressed concerns over efforts to alter the demographic composition of IIOJK by issuing domicile certificates to non-locals and the extensive land occupation by the Indian army, which he said has severely affected the daily lives of the Kashmiri population. Furthermore, Rehmani condemned the seizure of Kashmiri properties for Indian business interests, the closure of privately owned educational and religious institutions, and the coercion of religious leaders to align with government directives.

Rehmani lamented the erosion of basic and constitutional rights in IIOJK, with thousands of young people and political leaders incarcerated, challenging Modi’s assertions of peace, development, and prosperity in the region. His statement underscores the ongoing grievances and challenges faced by the Kashmiri people under Indian rule.