Hurriyat Leaders Vow Resistance Against BJP Policies Threatening Kashmir’s Identity

The APHC spokesperson called for reinstating Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, demanding India reverse its 2019 decision to revoke Articles 370 and 35A.

The BJP-led Indian government’s ongoing efforts to undermine the political and cultural identity of Jammu and Kashmir’s people have met strong opposition from Hurriyat leaders, who vow to resist any moves to dilute the territory’s heritage and autonomy. In a statement issued in Srinagar, Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, spokesperson for the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), condemned recent policies aimed at marginalizing the region’s Muslim-majority population.

The APHC spokesperson called for reinstating Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, demanding India reverse its 2019 decision to revoke Articles 370 and 35A. This move, which stripped the region of its special provisions, is seen by the APHC as an attempt to “rob Kashmiris of their honor and identity.” Minhas emphasized that “accepting these changes would mean losing our unique identity and heritage, which we view as essential to our existence.”

The APHC also denounced the Modi government’s alleged efforts to settle non-Kashmiri Hindus in the territory, calling it an attempt to alter the region’s demographic structure. These actions, according to the APHC, reflect a BJP-RSS agenda to create a Hindu-majority presence in the region, contrary to the wishes of its indigenous population and international standards.

Urging the international community to pressure India, the APHC demanded the restoration of Kashmiri rights and the implementation of UN resolutions that support the right to self-determination. Restoring Article 370, the APHC argued, would not only safeguard Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy but would also honor the dignity of a population facing systemic suppression.

The APHC concluded by reaffirming that Kashmiris will persist in their pursuit of justice and dignity until their political rights and special status are fully acknowledged.