ISLAMABAD – India faces a snub from international body over revocation ofspacial status for Occupied Kashmir.
Amnesty International India on Monday said that New Delhi’s decision torevoke Indian-occupied Kashmir’s (IoK) special status “without consulting[the region’s] stakeholders and amidst a complete clampdown on civilliberties” could lead to increased tension in the region.
Earlier today, India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party stripped Kashmiris ofthe special autonomy they had for seven decades through a rushedpresidential order. An indefinite curfew was imposed in IoK and electedleaders were put under house arrest.
By repealing Article 370 of the constitution, people from the rest of Indiawill now have the right to acquire property in IoK and settle therepermanently.
Read Top Stories
Kashmiris as well as critics of India’s Hindu nationalist-led governmentsee the move as an attempt to dilute the demographics of Muslim-majorityKashmir with Hindu settlers.
“The unilateral decision of the Government of India to revoke the specialstatus of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under the Constitution of India withoutconsulting J&K stakeholders and amidst a complete clampdown on civilliberties and communications blackout is likely to inflame prevailingtensions, alienate the people in the state and increase the risk of furtherhuman rights violations,” read a press statementlinkthatwas released after Indian President Ram Nath Kovind signed an orderrevoking Article 370 of the constitution.
