WAHINGTON – Pakistan seek big diplomatic success against India on theforiegn policy front from the United States Congress Human rights Committee.
The Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a second hearingon Thursday to examine the human rights situation in the former state ofIndian-occupied Kashmir (IoK)
During the hearing, more witnesses testified against Indian atrocities inIoK. The witnesses agreed that children in the region should not betortured and that adults should not be detained. They added India shouldgive access to international/United Nation observers and journalists.
During the hearing, witness Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said that she hasbeen closely following the situation in IoK. Jayapal is also the firstwoman of Indian descent to be elected to the US House of Representatives.“I am deeply concerned by the Indian government’s actions in Kashmir, todetain people without charge, severely limit communications and block thirdparties from visiting are harmful to our close and critical relationship,”she said.
Jayapal said the question of religious intolerance has been plaguing her asas one of the great things about India is its attenion to religious freedom.
USCIRF’s @CommrBhargavalink and @RepJayapallink discussing the issuesthat are taking place in #JammuAndKashmirlink.So great to see two strong Indian women having this conversation.#KashmirInUSCongresslink pic.twitter.com/zP5y73yZTJ link
— USCIRF (@USCIRF) November 14, 2019link
Anurima Bhargava who is the commissioner from the US Commission onInternational Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said that religious freedom andthe rights and freedoms of Muslim communities are being curtailed as aconsequence of the Indian government’s actions.
“India’s religious minorities currently stand at a precipice. If the Indiangovernment continues on its current trajectory, their livelihood, rights,and freedoms could be in serious danger,”Bhargava said who is also ofIndian descent. The commissioner added that it is impossible to getaccurate data on religious freedom when USCIRF not permitted to visit Indiain 15 years.
Arjun S. Sethi, human rights lawyer and Adjunct Professor, during his turnsaid that India’s Bharatiya Janata Party is the political ring of RashtriyaSwayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He added that Indian PM Narendra Modi himselftrained with the RSS and said Modi is proud to be a member of RSS.
Modi today is forging a new India where non-Hindus are second classsubjects with limited rights, Sethi said. “Today India more closelyresembles an authoritative regime than a pluralistic public,” Sethi said.
He said India is hiding its hate violence, atrocities in IoK and that isthe reason it is not allowing journalists from visiting the area. Hefurther said that Indian armed forces are torturing children in Kashmir todeath and blinding people to death.
Yousra Fazili a human rights lawyer also highlighted the plight ofKashmiris including her own cousin who was taken away by Indian forcesduring a mid-night raid after August 5.
Meanwhile, Sunanda Vashisht said that India has not occupied Kashmir andthat Kashmir was never a separate part. She said Kashmir is an integralpart of India and has always been, adding, “There is no Kashmir withoutIndia and there is no India without Kashmir”.