Kashmir observes shutdown on India’s Republic Day
Syed Ali Safvi
Press TV, Indian-administered Kashmir
As India celebrated its 71st Republic Day, a complete shutdown was observed in Indian administered Kashmir in a bid to draw attention to New Delhi’s "broken promises" and condemn its policies towards Kashmir.
Security measures were tightened across the disputed region to pre-empt anti-government demonstrations. Many roads leading to the capital city Srinagar were also blocked to restrict public movement. Mobile phone services also remained suspended for hours.
People in the besieged Himalayan territory accuse India of betraying the trust of the people and refusing to hold a referendum in the disputed region as promised by India’s first Prime Minister in 1947.
Critics have long accused India’s ruling Hindu Nationalist party – BJP- of muzzling the voices of dissent in Kashmir and denying people of the region their fundamental rights, otherwise guaranteed by the Indian constitution.
They have particularly slammed India for the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir which revoked the region’s autonomous status.
Moreover, the BJP government has come under scathing criticism across India for "manipulating the Indian constitution" in a bid to change the secular fabric of India and make it a Hindu Rashtra or nation. People are up in arms against the new citizenship law which many believe is anti-Muslim.
Once again on India’s Republic Day, life has come to a grinding halt here in Kashmir as the region has observed shutdown to protest what people here call New Delhi’s iron-fist policies vis-a-vis Kashmir. They urge world leaders to play their role in helping resolve one of the world’s long-standing dispute which threatens international peace and security.
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