The Reality of ‘Forced Normalcy’ in IIOJK Exposed

Despite Indian authorities’ repeated claims of peace, the ground reality in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) tells a different story.

Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of IIOJK, has admitted that the security situation in the region remains precarious, contradicting the Indian government’s portrayal of normalcy. Speaking at the Red Mike Dialogues in New Delhi, he emphasized that the situation in the disputed territory is far from stable, even more than five years after the illegal abrogation of Article 370.

Abdullah directly challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) claims, stating that the so-called normalcy in IIOJK is not a result of organic peace but is being enforced through fear and suppression. He pointed out that if the current state of affairs were truly natural and peaceful, there would be no need for excessive security measures and restrictions on fundamental rights.

He elaborated that forced normalcy can only be maintained for a limited time. According to him, if Delhi genuinely believed that peace in IIOJK was natural, there would be no reason to keep Jamia Masjid in Srinagar closed or prevent Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from attending his father-in-law’s funeral prayers. Such actions, he argued, expose the Indian authorities’ fear of potential unrest, proving that their claims of stability are misleading.

Abdullah warned that when normalcy is imposed through fear rather than mutual understanding, it is bound to collapse at some point. True peace, he suggested, comes from addressing the concerns of the people rather than silencing them. His remarks highlight the growing disconnect between the ground realities in IIOJK and the narrative pushed by the Indian government.

As voices like Abdullah’s continue to challenge the official stance, the debate over IIOJK’s political future and security situation remains a significant issue. The demand for genuine peace and justice in the region grows stronger, as many believe that the only path to true stability lies in addressing the aspirations of the Kashmiri people rather than enforcing silence through force.