Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, has criticized the current elections in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as “meaningless,” attributing this to the alleged manipulations by the Modi government. He highlighted several actions, including the revocation of IIOJK’s special status and changes to local laws that, undermine the legitimacy of these elections.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in a recent interview, underscored that the series of measures taken by the Modi government since August 2019—such as the abrogation of Article 370, mass arrests, and amendments to the Reorganization Act—have effectively stripped the region of its autonomous legislative powers. He argued that these steps form part of a strategy to alter the demographic makeup of the predominantly Muslim region.

Mirwaiz further described a palpable tension on the ground, with widespread self-censorship among the populace out of fear of retaliation. He emphasized that the absence of vocal opposition should not be mistaken for acceptance, pointing out the existence of a significant, albeit subdued, resistance.

He also stated that civic elections are incapable of addressing or resolving the disputes in Kashmir, which are recognized by the United Nations.