Modi-fied Kashmir

Developmentalism Deconstructed: In Kashmir, India’s rhetoric of development only translates to changing names from Urdu/English to Hindi, unauthorised exploitation of Kashmir’s natural wealth, harassment of working professionals, UAPA against lawful activity, PSA against public concern and scant regard for the life and liberty of Kashmiris. In August 2019, doctors who warned that curfew and communications blackout would lead to critical medication shortages and deaths were arrested. In September, 271 hectares of forest land were marked to be diverted for development projects. In February 2020, the government renamed PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department as ‘Jal Shakti Department’. All this, while people continue to remain in detention and internet restrictions continue to remain in place. The latest order extends internet restriction to May 11.

Many Indians seem to believe that Modi is a kind of messiah who will solve all their problems. A survey by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), a Delhi-based think tank, indicates that a third of BJP voters said they would have supported another party if Modi was not the prime ministerial candidate. This perception is largely created due to Modi’s effective use of catchy rhetoric like “sabka saath, sabka vikaas”. But in Kashmir, there are no takers for Modi’s “Chunaavi Jumlas”. For Indians, Modi has proven to be a “Teflon Prime Minister” because his mistakes do not seem to stick to his record. 

Links for further reading:

1. Education impacted due to the seven months of lockdown and Indian government’s denial to restore 4G internet in Kashmir.

• • https://www.thequint.com/my-report/lockdown-jammu-and-kashmir-no-4g-online-classes-whatsapp-slow-2g-speed
  • https://www.dw.com/en/india-extends-kashmir-high-speed-internet-ban/a-53265440

2. The UP model of development via changing names 

• • https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/phe-irrigation-and-flood-control-dept-renamed-as-jal-shakti-dept-in-j-k-120042501015_1.html
  • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-jk-questions-over-whether-urdu-will-remain-official-language-5963326/

3. Permanent barricading delays fire department, house burns down

• • https://www.thekashmirmonitor.net/fallout-of-barricading-fire-tenders-reach-late-to-douse-flames-at-natipora/

4. Arbitrary detentions in Kashmir since August 5, 2019 had reached an appalling figure of 5161 in November 2019. Amnesty International has appealed the Indian government to release the Kashmiris detained in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

• • https://thewire.in/rights/jammu-and-kashmir-detentions-parliament
  • https://amnesty.org.in/news-update/india-arbitrarily-detained-kashmiri-prisoners-must-be-freed/

5. Swift and stealthy Forest Clearances as State under lockdown

• • https://scroll.in/latest/941222/jammu-and-kashmir-125-projects-cleared-on-forest-land-since-august-only-97-approved-last-year

• • https://thewire.in/government/forest-land-jammu-and-kashmir

6. Doctors attacked as healthcare deteriorates in the face of pandemic. Journalists regularly harassed and slapped with charges. 

• • https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/08/27/kashmiri-doctor-arrested-warning-blackout-could-cause-deaths/
  • https://www.firstpost.com/health/coronavirus-outbreak-doctors-beaten-up-power-dept-workers-harassed-as-jammu-and-kashmir-police-enforces-lockdown-not-allowed-to-buy-essentials-say-residents-8201191.html
  • https://thewire.in/media/use-of-uapa-against-journalists-is-last-nail-in-coffin-for-press-freedom-in-kashmir

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