The Federal Minister for Interior Brig (r) Ijaz Ahmad Shah addressed a National Seminar on “Decoding Hindu Mindset and India’s Strategic Motives” at National Defence University as a Chief Guest on 6th February 2020.
“Kashmir is not an internal matter of India, it has been a disputed territory and there have been UN resolutions pertaining to this issue” said the Interior Minister while addressing the National Seminar. “The abrogation of article 370 and 35A have not only deprived Kashmiris of their identity but has also made the matter controversial on International lines” he added. The seminar held in the National Defence University emphasized to understand how the Hindu mindset has prevailed over the years and has resulted on the situation of the region as we see it today. The Federal Minister for Interior Brig ( R ) Ijaz Ahmad Shah reinforced the point that Kashmir is an issue that has affected us over the years and that must be addressed at all levels, on all forums, because unless a sustainable solution is achieved this issue will continue to hound us, and cost our countrymen their lives and our economy distress, and that issue of extreme urgency is the Kashmir issue. We broke free from the Colonial rule years ago, and to this day we are paying the heavy price for their negligence.
For years, we have fought and then made peace; but the recent decision taken by the Indian Government, on 5th August 2019, that revoked the Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution has not only undermined humanity but has also brought International attention to the Kashmir dispute once again.
He stressed upon the point that “India’s justification of revocation that it will enable the people of Kashmir to access the government programs that include the right to education and right to information, gets nullified by the forced cutting of communication lines and imposition of curfew in the valley. the primary reason for highlighting this self-contradictory justification given by the Indian Government for revocation is that if this decision was taken for the well-being of Kashmiris and the imposition of curfew was solely for the prevention of any undesired incident, then does this probability remain as relevant today as it was 187 days ago?” This is not only inhumane but ironic and tragic at the same time. He added
Ijaz Shah explained how over the years, the Hindutva Mindset has worked on forming grounds where they could negate the idea of Muslim dominated Jammu and Kashmir, but again, I reinforce, it is not about the religion or any set of beliefs, it is about the people of Kashmir being denied their right to self-determination. The Hindutva Movement that primarily reinforces the concept of Hindu Nationalism and is being closely followed by the current Indian government; has stated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. He said that “the Modi’s government has a history of stoking tensions between Hindus and Muslims, with its political rule now focused on “Hindutva” which translates as “Hindu-ness” and reframes Hinduism as an identity rather than a theology or religion. Modi has fostered Hindu nationalism through anti-Islamic rhetoric, from false accusations to lynching over consuming beef. Clearly, these are tactics designed to expand the notion of Hindutva and further isolate the Muslim population within India, targeting Kashmir is a crucial part of this strategy”.
He also discussed how the decision of Babri Mosque site and Ram Temple decision of November 2019 and the controversial citizenship bill have their roots in the years’ long nurtured extremist ideas that have now been executed. Towards the conclusion that much is that it is understandable that these internal matters will have an impact on overall global situation sooner or later, we must understand that Kashmir is not an internal matter of India and the international community must play its role in reaching a solution over the dispute. Pakistan will not step back from its stance on Kashmir, he added and also said that the regional peace is impossible without a achieving a sustainable solution of Kashmir issue.
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