Srinagar: Civil society members in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have accused the ruling BJP government of executing a strategic plan to alter the region’s demographic composition, aiming to shift its Muslim majority into a minority.

In a meeting held in Srinagar, members including Dr. Zubair Ahmad Raja, Mohammad Furqan, Mohammad Iqbal Shaheen, and Syed Haider Hussain asserted that the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A was chiefly aimed at changing the territory’s demographic landscape. They cited data revealing that post the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, modified domicile laws have led to 83,000 non-Kashmiris receiving domiciles in the region.

The group highlighted the presence of over a million Indian forces in the area, fostering a climate of fear and repression. This environment, they contended, leaves locals feeling marginalized, as forces operate under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which grants them significant authority. Critics of the government’s actions often face detention under stringent laws like the Public Safety Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Drawing parallels to global scenarios, the civil society members compared India’s policies in Kashmir to Israel’s in Palestine, pointing to the establishment of separate colonies as a tactic of settlement and segregation.

They emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir is recognized internationally as a disputed territory. The group urged the global community to acknowledge India’s actions and pressure its leadership to address the protracted Kashmir conflict.