Srinagar: Legal experts in Srinagar accuse the Modi government of using legal changes to further consolidate its hold over the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir, framing these moves as part of a broader strategy to modify the area’s demographic and cultural identity to fit its nationalistic agenda.

According to Kashmir Media Service, these experts, who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal, argue that the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, was a pivotal moment that intensified India’s control over the region. This legal overhaul, perceived as unconstitutional, has been facilitated by a judiciary that critics claim has aligned with the government’s objectives.

Since the legal changes, the Indian government has enacted laws that ease land acquisition and domicile status for non-local Hindus, strategies viewed as attempts to alter the demographic balance of the region. Such measures, are aimed at undermining the rights and identity of the native Muslim population, leading to accusations of settler colonialism.

These actions not only challenge the cultural and economic stability of the indigenous Kashmiris but also contravene United Nations resolutions on the status of the territory, which is internationally recognized as disputed. The ongoing legal and political shifts in Kashmir continue to draw international concern and calls for adherence to international law regarding its future status.