Srinagar: In Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, local political analysts and civil society activists have raised alarms over significant policy shifts since August 2019, asserting that actions by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government are systematically stripping the region of its autonomy and cultural identity.
According to Kashmir Media Service, sources in Srinagar detailed how Modi’s policies since the revocation of the region’s special status have led to the dismantling of its political and economic independence. Analysts noted that these measures include altering educational frameworks and cultural narratives to dilute Kashmiri heritage and identity.
A senior analyst, who wished to remain unnamed, criticized the Indian government’s approach: “Modi’s regime has manipulated public perception through propaganda, distorting Kashmir’s historical narrative to suit its political ends. This includes the production of Bollywood films that often cast Kashmiris in a negative light, fueling Islamophobia.”
Another focus of the Modi administration, as activists pointed out, is the economic restructuring that purportedly favors non-local entities over indigenous Kashmiri businesses and workers, intensifying local discontent. “Development projects are touted as beneficial, but they predominantly serve outsiders, sidelining the native population who watch their homeland being commodified without their consent,” an activist explained.
The situation has escalated fears among the Muslim community in Kashmir, who report increasing victimization under the Hindutva-driven agenda of the central government. This has permeated everyday life, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and existential threat among the local populace.
The discussions underscore a growing call for international intervention. Analysts and activists are urging global bodies to recognize and address the dire human rights situation in Kashmir, advocating for a cessation of policies they describe as an assault on Kashmiri life and culture by the Modi government.