Kashmir Rally at the California State Capitol
By Ras H. Siddiqui
The recent decision of the Indian Government to revoke Article 370, a constitutional provision specifically on Kashmir, and to split the area of the state that it holds into two Union Territories ruled by New Delhi has had a reaction worldwide.
The first people to be jolted have been the Kashmiris themselves from both sides of the Line of Control (LOC), currently dividing the state between India and Pakistan. And if the people of the state have been shaken up, their Diaspora has suddenly been forced to become active too.
From some news reports and the social media the minority Hindu communities from Kashmir (Pandits) appear to be pleased (in a guarded way) while the representatives of the Kashmiri Muslim majority have by and large expressed their anger. And since Kashmir remains a dispute between India and Pakistan, people from neither country can be left out of the equation.
On a hot Tuesday, August 13, 2019, close to 300 people gathered at the southern steps of the California State Capitol building to show their displease at this move by the Indian government and to show their solidarity with the Kashmiri majority. In attendance were people from both sides of the LOC along with their families plus Pakistanis and Indians who have now made America their home, along with representatives of the Sikh community who can relate to the Kashmiri experience in India because they too live as a minority there.
The event was arranged by the Kashmir Action Committee, Pakistan American Association of Sacramento (PAAS), American Muslim Voice (AMV), Pakistan American Sports and Cultural Organization (PASCO), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), and the Sacramento Valley Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) with the theme of “Stand with Kashmir.” Speakers at this event emceed by Sabir Ahmad included Imam M. A. Azeez, Ammar Ansari, Amar Shergill, Waheed Meer (Kashmiri), Bhajan Singh Bhinder, Dr Manejeh Jahan (Kashmiri), Imam M. A. Qasmi, Oussama Mokeddem (CAIR), Javaid Akhtar, with concluding remarks offered by Kamran Malik.
The atmosphere at the Capitol steps was somber and energetic. Carrying signs, the men, women and children in attendance demanded that the Indian government stop the killings in Kashmir and end its lockdown of the valley where most of the people live. For a number of years now the cry of “Azadi” (Freedom) has become the mantra in the Kashmir Valley and at least one speaker stressed that this goal has not been abandoned but may now be strengthened.
Only time will tell if this decision by the BJP government in India will open a Pandora’s box for India as a whole or bring a resolution to Kashmir, a conflict that the United Nations (UN) has thus far failed to bring to a resolution (in spite of many UN Resolutions). On the other hand, India appears to have abandoned the bilateral path to reach a settlement with Pakistan and now wants to settle it unilaterally. Whatever the case may be, Kashmiris (and their Pakistani supporters) are not going to accept this change in Kashmir easily. The speakers at this rally at the Capitol were less than complimentary of this turn of events, and want to bring the world’s attention to abuses in Kashmir in spite of the Indian media predominantly praising this move.
Kashmir is a human rights issue and that was what the Kashmir Committee had in mind when it organized the rally. But individual speakers and participants had their own reactions which took on a life of their own. There were flags of a Free Kashmir along with Pakistani flags at this rally. It would have been nice if an Indian flag or two had also been present to show that the rest of India is concerned about what is going on in the Kashmir Valley today.
To conclude, a decision was made in New Delhi claiming that the removal of Articles 370 and 35A (restricting land ownership) would bring prosperity to Kashmir. But without liberty and voluntary inclusion this move has the possibility of backfiring. The participants of this rally at the California State Capitol by and large wished for the lifting of the curfew in the Kashmir Valley so that people can get food and medical attention. It has now been 10 days, and it appears that the lockdown will continue past August 15th which is India’s Independence Day. Till then protests by Kashmiris and their friends are only permissible in places like California.
