SIKANDAR NOORANI
As per universally acknowledged definition a democracy has to be a form of government which always strives for the welfare, prosperity and development of people dependent on it. This concept seems entirely reversed in world’s so called ‘The Largest Democracy’ known as India. Objections on Indian version of mutilated democracy have surfaced from two different quarters which can not be graded as biased or partial. First voice is of highly unbiased and extremely fair man , retired Justice Markande Katjo, who has a repute of being blunt and uncompromising in expressing his views.
Retired Justice Katju was one of those few unbiased intellectuals from India who openly criticized the 5th August Kashmir misadventure of Modi government. Now in a recent statement, unmistakable Justice Katju have raised serious questions about the so called secular democracy of India. His criticism revolves around the inhuman atrocities being bluntly committed in occupied Kashmir under state sponsorship.
Justice Markande Katju , without mincing words , has warned Indian public that a dangerous storm of hatred, prejudice and religious fanaticism had started taking over India under highly objectionable rule of RSS cult. He is justified in saying that a mindless joker has managed to become the leader of India by exploiting religious extremism and hateful Hindutva ideology.
As per Justice Katju, after spoiling the constitution ,now the State of India has no moral right to celebrate the republic day. This eye opening exposure of Indian democracy is hard to deny being revelations of an unbiased man of international repute who happened to be at top judiciary posts. What Justice Markande Katju revealed is not coming in a state of occasional depression rather endorsed by well renowned international media quarters.
Washington Post’ editorial is not less than a charge sheet against so called democratic republic of India. Editorial, just like Justice Katju, has raised serious questions on the real nature of Indian democracy in the context of unprecedented prolonged Curfew in Kashmir. It has been rightly pointed out that how a curfew infected with extra judicial custodial torture and a democracy can prevail in a society side by side? Unarmed peaceful Kashmiri youth is being electrocuted while hanged upside down without any legal or judicial formality. People have been denied the fundamental human rights. Mysteriously, all applications lodged in Indian courts, against constitutional misadventure and denial of human rights in Kashmir, are held up . It further confirms that an important pillar of state, Judiciary, seems hand in glove or under extreme pressure of blood thirsty RSS mafia. It is not that Kashmiri masses are denied of freedom, in fact Indian judiciary is also facing extreme pressure from RSS fanatics. Charge sheet framed by Washington Post and Justice Markande Katju against Indian state contains serious objections on validity of so called secular values and ideological foundations of constitution. Crisis in Kashmir has snatched the artificial mask of secularism from the face of India.
World is shocked that how a country like India can claim to be a democracy after converting Kashmir into a prison or Nazi Concentration Camp . Impartial international organizations have logically predicted about a well-planned genocide in occupied Kashmir. It is not only Pakistan speaking against India for committing heinous atrocities in Kashmir. Now, whole world is pointing fingers towards India. Denial is not a viable solution to complex problem like Kashmir where lives of more than 8 Million humans being are at stake. Common people from 13 different villages of occupied Kashmir were thoroughly interviewed by staff of Washington Post. These interviews revealed shocking facts about inhuman treatment by state institutions with Kashmiri masses after 5th August misadventure of revocation of Article-370. People from all walks of life including politicians, lawyers, professors , businessmen and students have been facing the worst treatment in the hands of state . Claims made by Indian state to justify the revocation of special status of Kashmir and acts manifested on ground to crush the human rights are equivalent to death of logic. No sane mind can digest this logic that Kashmir is accelerating on the path of development after being clamped down with the tool of curfew and communication black out.
India bluntly refused the request of American congress delegation for visiting IoK . International media and neutral organizations are right in asking pertinent questions about extremely dubious state of human rights in Kashmir. If, IOK is peaceful and happy over revocation of Article-370, then, why curfew could not be lifted till today? Why absolute communication black out is imposed on Kashmir? Why, masses are not allowed to offer prayers in mosque? Why, protestors are raising slogans against RSS style development of Kashmir and waving Pak flag at their homes? A human tragedy is worsening in Kashmir with every passing moment of inaction on part of International community.
