Free Kashmir cacophony in USA

Bring slogans DE KASHMIR, Stop GENOCIDE, OPPRESSION & FASCISM" "STAND WITH KASHMIR, FREE KASHMIR "STOP GENOCIDE IN KASHMIR, and HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION" are being displayed at prominent points in United States of America's network, hoisted at Time Square, New York sponsored anti- India demonstration-Stand with India, Free Kashmir and appealed people to stay connected with the network. Time Square is world-famous advertising spot for commercial intersection, where hoarding means price advertisement. Time Square in New York is brightly adorned with billboards and advertisement location where millions of pedestrians, including international tourists walk through annually. Being within the proximity of Midtown Manhattan section of New York, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, the cost of hoarding at the space is running reportedly in millions Even hoardings across USA, in other states on National Highways in Michigan, New Jersey, are no way less in cost compared to Time Square.

The hoardings in support of seceding of Kashmir from mainland India after nullification of Articles 370 and 35A appeared on high-flying point intermittently at alternative sites in USA on cross section of the road network of USA where members of international community are settled. Cumulatively, rising of the hoarding, its design, framing of political message and fixing the best recognized location is an expensive process. Planting of hoardings, whether at commercial sites or on interstate road bisectors in USA, is to be in consonance with the law of land to avoid any kind of violation in the host country.

The advocacy of the anti-India mischief was not only confined to hoardings in the big cities of USA. Propaganda against Indian human right violation in Kashmir was being addressed in street demonstration, protests and in university conferences. Protesters in the gathering were not only of Kashmiri Muslims settled in US, but it had the presence of Pakistani, Middle East Muslims (Pan Islamist) and some South India non-Muslims individuals also. In surcharged assembly, the participants hurled aggressive and abusive anti-India slogans at high pitch to make it audible to passersby US nationals en route. Focused on so-called atrocities in Kashmir, by the Indian forces stationed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir were, in fact, to protect territorial integrity from Pakistan and China which were aggressors and had occupied portions of the state. Interestingly, the timing of demonstration this time coincided with the 74th United Nations General Assembly session where Imran Khan and Modi were to address the forum in New York.

Third pronged attack on India's occupation of Kashmir state and its reign of terror let loose on the people Jammu and Kashmir were echoed in conferences and Universities of USA. An event by Kashmir Muslim campaign and speaking Tour in US Universities Post 5 Aug 2019 was conducted on 27/28th September in New York University Sponsors of such anti-India publicity were held at New York University's Global South Asia Center, New York University Gallatin, Gallatin Human Right Initiative. Panellist in the event were Mrs Mona Bhan, Hafsa Kanjwal, David Luddin and Haley Duschinsky who severely criticised India's brutality in Kashmir and blamed India for exploiting natural resources in Kashmir for building the nation state of India Similar events were conducted in Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Princeton, Sept 18. In these entire events the gathering was managed and controlled by the organisers. Any one raising pertinent questions, challenging the authenticity of the speakers was made to calm down or booed. The audience present at the venue was also selective or a chosen lot who could cause ruckus at the spur of moment at the contrary view holders. Panellists lashed at the Indian Government for its anti terror laws, custodial deaths, disappearance, brutal administration, use of pellet guns. Hafsa Kanjwal could foresee possible ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Muslims and if the world did not wake up. Muslims were in existential crisis under the Hindu rightist dispensation. Mona Bhan accused Indian Govt. for running power projects on the state soil which was having damaging impact on ecology and environment of the state. The Indus Water Treaty was discriminatory in sharing. None of them made any reference or passing remark about the target killing and molesting of Hindu women by gun- toting Pakistan-trained Kashmiri Muslim youth which were he reasons for their mass exodus from the valley.

Whatever was being noticed against India, obviously sponsored in USA, has not happened in a jiffy Already, people like Ghulam Nabi Fai, a Jamiat-e- Islami ideologue, was running Kashmir American Council, in USA, since 1990 in which intellectuals from India and Kashmir attended the doctored seminars regularly in USA. The Kashmir American Council was funded and supported by the Pak agency for the liberation of Kashmir from the Indian yoke. He was lobbying among the political members of the US and greased the propaganda machinery in support of the Kashmir liberation movement in US society. Later, he was convicted, for working as an agent of a Pakistan agency Around the same period, USA had another highly rich Kashmir-born Muslim entrepreneur Farooq Kathwari's Kashmir Study group (proprietor Athen Allen Inc) harped on five regional councils for the erstwhile state of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit with the joint control of India and Pakistan which was an utopian resolution plan Farooq Kathwari was shuttling between US-Pakistan-India and Kashmir with his resolution agenda. This group was a white elephant because its paraphernalia of US retired diplomats' personnel on payroll.

On a similar line, with the same aspiration of liberation Kashmir, Dr Ayub Thakur, leader of Islami Jamiat Tulba (Kashmir) of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement in England went on whole hog for funding Kashmir militancy and advocated for its freedom in most of the forums and universities till his death. Another stalwart Abdul Majeed Tramboo, Chairman, International Council for Human Rights, ICHR Kashmir-Centre, EU, Kashmir Foundation International, was well a recognized legal luminary on human rights. He eloquently presented erudite legal papers on human right violations of Kashmin Muslims under the Indian hegemony at international forums extensively to nail down Indian democracy

In view of this consideration, one comes to the conclusion that it is an orchestrated work of the anti- India lobby, supported by Pakistan. Pakistan was rattled with the enactment of nullification of articles 370 and 35A. Many official and non-official delegations made a beeline to USA to express their objections on Modi Govt.'s unilateral action on Jammu and Kashmir to US political leadership. They are reported to have met many Congressmen and Senators to impress upon them to pressurise the Modi Govt. to revoke the nullification of the act as it had deprived the Kashmin people from their special status causing dent in their constitutional provisions They were said to have sought US intervention to settle the long- pending issue. The Congressmen and Senators, who met Pakistan's representatives in light of the nullification of Articles 370 and 35A, had no background on the issue. They got one side version of the matter but had no convincing back up on the matter. It was a somewhat embarrassing position for them as they could not produce any narrative before the Pakistan members to whom they met. According to one non-resident Indian doctor, settled in Michigan, politically active, disclosed that Congressmen and Senators in US were not that knowledgeable or interested on what happened in the Indian subcontinent. They were to be abreast of the substance of the whole gimmick of the Kashmir dispute.

Money plays a greater role in the political arena of USA. So, corruption is legalised. The Pak lobby is using money power to win over political persons and media persons to get their national objective accomplished on Kashmir or any anti-India matter raked up in the US. On the other side Indian Embassy seems sluggish in spreading its tentacles deep and wide in US society, with the result Indian point is not presented befittingly

NRI and Indian youth, serving in states of USA, came on the road in support of the removal of the articles 370 and 35A but their number on the ground was far less. Their assemblies were weak in making catchy political slogans and lacked punch in the banners whatever a little they carried. On the top of it, their protest was showcased at the spot of the venue but not along the route to make motorists and corner gathering to know the purpose of their disapproval. NRI demonstrations against anti-India or anti-Modi Govt. were voluntary, with individual subscriptions and self managed. No Indian agency was supporting them. For the media coverage, huge money was required, which the visa-holder youth could not afford. Moreover, the fear of getting implicated under any law of land for their political activism might risk their job and they would be forced to get deported haunts them. So, they are discreet in pro-India street shows. Many NRIs believe that removal of Articles 370 and 35A was in the interest of Kashmiri people. So all Kashmir Hindus should be at the frontline of the protest.

NRIS in the US fail to understand how the nullification of Article 370 has integrated J&K with the rest of India completely under a single flag and one constitution as one physical entity. Another, myopic point among the NRIs in USA is that despite their advancement, they still are hooked up to their regional and language background. Their bonding, as one Indian,

is not cemented. Modi, as first PM, did try to bring a sense of Indian nationalism to Indian Americans in Madison, which has crystallised to good extent, now.

By this time the trend was changing in the right direction. Congressmen and Senators sought for the meetings with Indian Americans to know democratic aspects of the nullification of the Articles 370 and 35A on the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Groups, inclusive of Kashmiri members, were arranged for the meeting with respective Directors of Senators. They were elaborately explained how the article was exploited by the ruling elite of Kashmir against the religious minorities and to the regions of Jammu and Ladakh in favour of Sunni Muslims. Episodes and events of barbarity committed against the Kashmiri Hindus in the valley and their mass exodus from the valley, in 1989- 90, were related threadbare. It is a long-drawn process to establish a strong pro-Indian lobby in USA with the help of NRIs, but NRIs should have reliable backing from he Indian embassy with a defined policy plan from the Indian Govt. to reach effectively the political elites, a class of academicians in universities and media sections of US society.

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The views expressed in the Article above are Surendar Koul   personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy:- Surendar Koul   and  Koshur Samachar 2020, January