Voice that speaks volume, Columnist Sunanda Vashisht points on need to eradicate radical Islamism from Kashmir

Washington, November 15: Bringing in a new dawn with India roping in Jammu and Kashmir as the new Union territory under the central government rule, the country is emerging out creating a change like never before. For a region like Kashmir, this change is essential as there is a need for India to eradicate the radical Islamism sustaining in the Valley. It is high time to strengthen India to fight against insurgencies in Kashmir, said columnist Sunanda Vashisht, placing her robust stand while she spoke at the US Congressional hearing on Human Rights organised by Tom Lantos HR Commission in Washington on Thursday.

 

Adding further, she said that the move, the fight, will followingly help in solving the human rights problems in the region forever. Speaking firmly, Vashisht said, “India's democratic credentials are unmatched. The country has successfully, in a democratic setup, defeated insurgencies in Punjab and northeast. It is time to strengthen India against such insurgencies and the human rights problems will be solved forever.”

Coming from a Kashmiri background, Sunanda Vashisht stressed on the fact that India, Kashmir in particular is dealing with Islamic terrorism. All deaths have been happening due to terrorists trained by Pakistan. This doublespeak is not helping India in any way. She said that the international community has to assist India in eradicating radical Islamist terror that is when the human rights situation will be possible.

She also highlighted how the ISIS levelled horror in Kashmir for 30 years before west was introduced to brutalities of Islamist terror. Questioning those who categorically were against abrogating Article 370, she asked, “Where were advocates of Human Rights when voices blaring from mosques in Kashmir said they wanted Kashmir without Kashmiri Hindu men but with women.”

She reiterated saying that it is delightful that Kashmiris have same rights as Indian citizens. If something as serious as Women’s right to own property and granting LGBTQ rights amongst many others has been accomplished by abrogation of Article 370, internet restoration isn’t far.

A referendum requires the entire community to unite for a decision, but in this case, a part of Kashmir is in India, another in Pakistan, a part of it is also held with China, Vashisht added. Further to it, she said that an Islamist State of Kashmir where other religions are not welcome and tolerance of any other viewpoint is absent is no citadel of Human Rights. Terrorism is the ultimate opponent of Human Rights. Human Rights cannot and should not take precedence over human life, she said.

In her concluding remarks, the columnist further stated that India has "not occupied" Kashmir and that Kashmir was always an integral part of India. "India is not just a 70-year-old identity, but a 5000-year-old civilisation. There is no India without Kashmir, and no Kashmir without India.”