Indian Policies Threaten Cultural Identity in Kashmir


Srinagar: Recent actions by the Indian government in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir are being viewed as direct threats to the cultural and demographic identity of the region. These initiatives include changes in domicile laws and the reallocation of local resources and administrative powers, sparking significant unrest among the local population.



According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian administration has enacted several controversial decisions, such as granting domicile status to over 500,000 non-local families and altering the administrative roles of Kashmiri civil servants. The Lieutenant Governor now possesses enhanced powers to confiscate properties and override local land ownership, measures that many locals and leaders in the region see as attempts to dilute the indigenous character of Kashmir.



These developments have drawn criticism for potentially altering the demographic makeup of IIOJK and erasing its historical and cultural legacies, with local and international observers expressing deep concerns about the future of the region under these policies.