Srinagar, Ahead of India’s Republic Day celebrations, Senior APHC leader Professor Abdul Ghani Butt has criticized the Indian government, stating that while India portrays itself as a democratic republic, the people of Kashmir have experienced only oppression over the past seven decades. This sentiment was expressed in a statement issued in Srinagar.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Professor Butt highlighted that while India observes January 26 as Republic Day, marking the adoption of its constitution, the spirit of democracy purportedly embodied by this event has not extended to Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that the region has continuously suffered under the brutalities of Indian armed forces.

Professor Butt further stated that India’s approach towards Kashmiris is one of intolerance, with efforts seemingly directed towards eradicating their identity. He mentioned ongoing attempts to obliterate the Kashmiri population.

The statement also pointed to severe restrictions on freedom of expression in the occupied territory, which Butt described as unprecedented globally. The condition of prisoners in the region was another focus of Butt’s criticism, where he highlighted the lack of justice within the Indian judiciary and elite. The emergence of bodies from prisons was cited as an indicator of the ruthless nature of the Indian state’s actions against Kashmiris.

Concluding his statement, Professor Butt asserted that India’s historical attempts to suppress Kashmiri resistance have been unsuccessful and predicted continued failures in the future. He urged the Indian government to prioritize the democratic rights of the Kashmiri minority rather than engaging in what he termed as a futile display of republicanism.