Kashmir - The ground reality part 2

5th September 2019

The media is undoubtedly the biggest weapon of mass destruction. Whilst Indian news channels continue to fool the public by spreading false propagandist information with regards to Kashmir, the ground reality is in actual fact catastrophic. Alhamdulilla with Gods grace, we managed to speak to a very close family friend this morning who is originally from Srinagar. Our relationship with this family goes back to the sixties when dads brother resided in India to complete his studies. Whilst at university he got very ill and was diagnosed with jaundice. Of course he wanted to return to South Africa but my dadaji instructed him to go to Kashmir to this family. He spent a few months in Kashmir and of course recovered from his illness there.This timid, middle aged gentleman and his family have managed to leave Srinagar for another city. They simply locked their home and left saying that Allah will protect their belongings.When i heard about the hardships and oppression meted out to the Kashmiri people i couldn't hold back my tears. There are army personnel every 100m. Many of these so called military personnel are in actual fact members of the RSS who were just given army uniforms. They have carte blanche to do as they please. Kashmiri people can not step out of their houses as a family. So if your family and friends are walking together, maybe 4 or 5 people you will be stopped and arrested. The army or should i rather say these goons are not there to protect civilians from so called terrorists attacks. They are there to harass and humiliate the locals. The locals are taunted by words like, " This is our land now. Your houses are ours." There has been protests down town Srinagar more towards the old city. Reports of the army raiding homes and kidnapping young boys during the night is all true. The exact same oppression carried out in Gaza by the Zionist jews is being carried out in Kashmir under a fascist barbaric inhumane regime. Perhaps the biggest violation of human rights in Kashmir is the fact that ordinary Kashmiris are unable to access life saving health care. Medical supplies are running critically low. The uncle told me that his sister is a diabetic and due to stress and anxiety she became very ill. She started developing blisters on her hands.There was no ambulance or transport available to take her to the hospital. The uncle risked his own life to get to another suburb where his sister resides. He then took her to the hospital himself after enduring much difficulty. He was repeatedly harassed at the checkpoints. He witnessed many other Kashmiris being harassed as well. Food supplies are running low too and most grocery stores are only open between 6pm and 9pm. This is when most people rush out of their homes scampering quickly down the road to see what they can buy. The economic situation is critical. The area relies on tourism and since all the tourists have left thousands of people are not earning any income. The "Gujurat butcher" is not interested in the people of Kashmir. He is only interested in their land. The atmosphere in Kashmir is dull and gloomy. The Kashmiris are happy at the fact that PM Imran Khan is highlighting the plight of the Kashmiri people to the international community. However the vast majority of Kashmiris do not wish to be a part of India or Pakistan. They want to be able to exercise their right of self determination as was promised decades ago. All they want is to be able to reside in peace on their land . All they want is freedom and independence. We are not living in the stone age. Its 2019, how can you keep millions of people under siege in an open jail cutting off all forms of commumication. Put yourself in these peoples shoes. These draconian laws undoubtedly highlights the pathetic mentality of those in power. They are oppressing Kashmiris simply because they are Muslim. They are oppressing Kashmiris to make true their dream of a full fledged purist Hindu India. They are oppressing Kashmiris because there is no place for minority groups in Modi's India. The ripple effect of the Kashmiri situation is spreading to other parts of India as well. My "brother" a devout Hindu who resides in Delhi has landed up in a deep financial crisis. He too works in the travel and tourism industry as a driver and tour guide. The mere fact that all the tourists left means that he is now left without a job temporarily as he has no one to drive to Kashmir or other parts of India. His boss can not afford to pay staff salaries as many tourists have cancelled their trips. No tourists means no revenue. Many poets and writers have described Kashmir as heaven on earth. In my eyes, it is such a magical place that words can not describe the beauty of the place. Kashmir is beautiful because of the warmth and hospitality of the Kashmiri people. I can not forget the tranquility and serenity i felt whilst walking through the valley of the shepherds. It is a place where strangers accept you as their own. Their culture and way of life is so simple yet so unique. And whilst you are greeted with big smiles and hugs, there is deep hurt and pain that dwells inside the hearts of all Kashmiris. Their heaven on earth, their paradise has always been a hell to reside in being the most militarized area in the entire world.To those Indians who worship Mr Modi as though he is a God, to those Indians who believe the propagandist crap they see on television day in and day out, wake up. Stop watching television and start reading books. Start educating yourself. Stop seeing the world through blinkers. Feel the plight and suffering of others. Today, they are suffering, tomorrow it could be you.