Indian Corporate Firms Operating Like the Modern-Day ‘East India Company’ in IIOJK

Indian corporate firms, with state backing, are exploiting IIOJK’s resources and people, mirroring the colonial plunder of the East India Company while leaving locals impoverished and displaced.

In Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the growing influence of Indian corporate firms raises serious concerns about the exploitation of local resources and the erosion of Kashmir’s autonomy. These companies, often backed by the Indian government, are increasingly operating with impunity, taking control of the region’s land, resources, and economy in a manner reminiscent of the colonial East India Company.

Just as the British East India Company once plundered the subcontinent’s wealth and left local populations destitute, contemporary Indian corporations are capitalizing on IIOJK’s resources while leaving the Kashmiri people impoverished and marginalized. The consequences of this corporate colonization are severe, and the parallels with colonial exploitation are undeniable.

Indian corporate giants, including real estate firms, industrial conglomerates, and extractive industries, are rapidly expanding their footprint in IIOJK. They are eyeing the region’s rich natural resources—its water, minerals, and forests—as well as its land, which they are acquiring through controversial policies. These corporations are profiting from the occupation while the local population bears the brunt of economic and social disenfranchisement.

A major example of this corporate takeover is the exploitation of IIOJK’s water resources. IIOJK is home to some of the country’s most valuable hydroelectric projects, yet the power generated is primarily redirected to Indian states, leaving the local population to suffer from power shortages. Despite this, large corporations benefit from these resources by establishing industrial hubs, gaining access to cheap energy, and maximizing profits—all while the people of Kashmir face crippling energy scarcity.

Real estate companies are another prime example of corporate greed in the region. With the Indian government’s push for demographic changes through settler colonization policies, these firms are acquiring vast tracts of land for construction projects, often with little regard for the local population’s needs or rights. These developments are pushing Kashmiris out of their ancestral homes, displacing families, and exacerbating unemployment.

Moreover, Indian corporations have started to control key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. These sectors, which traditionally supported local livelihoods, are now being dominated by corporate entities. IIOJK’s iconic handicrafts, agricultural products, and scenic landscapes are being exploited for profit, while Kashmiri artisans, farmers, and workers see only a fraction of the wealth generated by these industries.

The Indian government’s role in enabling this corporate dominance is no less troubling. Laws such as the Jammu and Kashmir Land Grant Rules and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act have made it easier for Indian firms to acquire land and resources, often sidelining local voices and concerns. In this way, the region’s economy is being restructured to serve the interests of Indian capital, while the welfare of its people is ignored.

The situation in IIOJK mirrors the economic exploitation faced by colonized regions in the past. Indian corporations, with the backing of the state, are operating with impunity, extracting wealth from the region’s resources while the people of IIOJK are left with little more than the consequences of displacement, poverty, and environmental degradation.

The people of IIOJK are not only fighting for their self-determination but also for economic independence from Indian corporate predators. The region’s resources and land must benefit its people, not outside corporations looking to profit from the occupation. As Kashmiris continue to resist this corporate colonization, the international community must recognize the dangers posed by these exploitative practices and hold both the Indian government and its corporate allies accountable.