AnnNew Delhi is getting nowhere in Kashmir and the G20 summit in 2019 was just another blunder in the chain of disasters that began in the lead up to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
In one of the sharpest statements on Kashmir in recent memory, UN Special Envoy on Minority Issues, Fernand de Varennes criticized India for holding the G20 meeting in Srinagar. Warren highlighted the dramatic increase in human rights violations since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on 5 August 2019. The representative’s strongly worded communiqué expressed fear of forced demographic change, citing loss of political autonomy and the implementation of new domicile rules. , It also contradicts New Delhi’s claims of international support on the Kashmir issue.
India condemned the statement as “baseless and unwarranted”.
enough with pr practice
In a desperate attempt to project peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, New Delhi has brought the region back into the international news. However, the choice of Kashmir as the site of the G20 summit should have indicated the challenges ahead. China protested, and major G20 members Turkey and Saudi Arabia did not participate. Even Egypt, a special invitee and chief guest of the Republic Day parade earlier this year, did not attend the meeting.
Previous attempts at PR exercises had similarly backfired. In October 2019, inviting European parliamentarians from far-right parties to visit Kashmir sparked outrage, especially as India’s own members of parliament were not allowed to visit at the time. The visits of 24 foreign envoys in 2021 failed to show normalcy in the region. The screening of local journalists at the G20 summit venue also did not improve the government’s image.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh was on fire when he was asked why India was reluctant to start the political process in the Union Territory when it could host an international event like the G20 summit. The minister questioned the mindset of journalists asking such questions. He was also involved in an argument with a foreign journalist who questioned the increased security and closure of schools. The minister’s tasteless answers to other questions also clearly exposed the pretense that all is well.
Several schools remained closed in Srinagar on 22–24 May, while shopkeepers complained that they were forced to keep their shops open in defiance of the separatist call for the shutdown. The eerie stillness and an unusual security movement was quite evident even during the build-up to the event.
BJP can’t survive the election
The BJP leadership, especially those involved in Kashmir, must realize that forced calm, temporary measures and PR exercises will not bring about meaningful and lasting change. New Delhi’s credibility among majority Kashmiris is at an all-time low. Only a serious, honest and transparent initiative can restore normalcy.
Achieving lasting peace requires sustained efforts based on real understanding rather than wishful thinking. Ignoring the concerns of the common people and relying on the police and bureaucracy will not improve the situation. There is a need for real politicians who can connect with the public, not just proxies. The BJP leadership should learn from Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s open minded approach to shape ideas and improve the situation.
A free and fair election process is essential for peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir and the entire region. Even if it means that the BJP does not achieve its desired electoral results, it is important to consider the discontent both among Kashmiris and the people of Jammu since August 2019.
Shabbir Hussain is the editor of Srinagar-based Kashmir Newsline. He tweets @Hussainesque. Thoughts are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)