The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday alleged that Government of India’s hard-line approach towards Kashmir coupled with the elimination of political mainstream is creating fertile grounds for radicalization.
The party also said hundreds of Kashmiri boys have been arrested prior to the G20 meet being held later this month
In the monthly newsletter, Speak Up, the party said G20 is another opportunity for the Government of India to “harass and intimidate” Kashmiris.
“Never let a good crisis go to waste. And although the G20 meet is hardly a crisis GOI is making full use of it as another opportunity to harass and intimidate Kashmiris. They insist that everything is normal in J&K and yet there has been an unprecedented surge in arrests, raids, surveillance and persecution of our people. Hundreds of Kashmiri boys have been arrested prior to the event, most of them from South Kashmir,” the PDP newsletter said.
The PDP said the Government of India failed to take adequate security measures to prevent the Poonch attack.
“… In less than a month, ten wreaths have been laid on the coffins of the ten soldiers that were killed by militants in Poonch and Rajouri. Not only did GOI fail to take adequate security measures to prevent the Poonch attack but they also tried to downplay it by calling it an accident. The truth would have never come to light had the militants not publicly taken responsibility for the event,” the PDP said.
The PDP said alienating an entire population comes with a price.
“GOI’s hardline approach towards Kashmir coupled with the elimination of our political mainstream is creating fertile grounds for radicalisation where the ‘azaadi’ sentiment is stronger than ever,” the PDP said, adding “ it is no secret that the Indian intelligence is losing its grip over the treacherous Pir Panjal region and to make matters worse the local security apparatus has detained more than 200 locals deemed suspects for the Poonch attack. “
“And while its muscular policy benefits BJP in every successive election it is the country that picks up the tab for the damage caused by their “shoot first, ask questions later” approach,” PDP said.” Perhaps this would be a good time for them to re-evaluate their priorities. If there is one thing that they can learn from recent events it is that the tables can turn at any given moment. What was was once the hunter can just as easily become the hunted.”
