Srinagar, As the elections continue in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the voices of local Kashmiris have brought global attention to the suppression and oppression they face under the Modi government, contradicting the official narratives of the situation during this electoral process.
According to Kashmir Media Service, reports in the Indian media and statements from Kashmiri political representatives reveal a reality of intensified oppression that starkly contrasts with the claims made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the region’s condition. The polling in three constituencies of IIOJK has become a focal point for international observers and local outcry against the alleged suppression tactics used by the government.
Waheed Para of the People’s Democratic Party and Agha Ruhollah of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference have publicly criticized the Modi government’s approach. Para spoke of a pervasive atmosphere of fear, enforced by what he called a “Raid Raj,” aimed at stifling dissent through various agencies and under the threat of severe charges like the UAPA. Ruhollah condemned the government’s focus on infrastructure at the expense of human rights, pointing out that neglect and poor policy decisions have already led to tragic losses.
These critical voices from IIOJK emphasize the dissonance between the lived experiences of the Kashmiri people and the narrative being advanced by the Indian government and its supporters.