UN ‘deeply concerned’ over Kashmir situation

The UN rights chief yesterday voiced alarm over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, following India’s decision to revoke the autonomous status of the Muslim-majority region last month.“I am deeply concerned about the impact of recent actions by the government of India on the human rights of Kashmiris,” Michelle Bachelet said in her opening statement to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.She pointed among other things to “restrictions on Internet communications and peaceful assembly, and the detention of local political leaders and activists.”India imposed a military clampdown on Kashmir from August 5 to prevent unrest as New Delhi revoked the region’s autonomy, with mobile phone networks and the Internet still cut off in all but a few pockets.Bachelet said she had urged both India and Pakistan to ensure that rights in the region are respected and protected.But she said she had “appealed particularly to India to ease the current lockdowns or curfews, to ensure people’s access to basic services, and that all due process of rights are respected for those who have been detained.”“It is important that the people of Kashmir are consulted and engaged in any decision-making processes that have an impact on their future,” she said.Her comments came as Indian authorities tightened the security lockdown in Kashmir on Sunday after breaking up religious processions by Shias who defied a ban.Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is scheduled to address the UN Human Rights Council today, with a speech expected to focus heavily on the situation in Kashmir.In New Delhi, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party said it was is confident that the global body will appreciate India’s position.The BJP maintains that the abolition of special status of the state and its bifurcation was done through a parliamentary process, which is an internal matter of the country.“Parliament passed a resolution with near unanimity that backed India’s decision (to abrogate Article 370). The mood of the nation is with the government. So when the matter will be taken up at UNHRC, India’s unanimous voice will be duly taken cognizance of and India’s position of Kashmir will be appreciated by the global community,” Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, BJP MP and head of think-tank Public Policy Research Centre, said.“Our position won’t change at the UNHRC. Kashmir is inalienable part of India and the decision to abrogate Article 370 is an internal matter and will remain the same at UNHRC,” the BJP leader said.The ruling part has already hit the ground explaining the government’s decision to the electorate and making a strong case of India’s stated position that it’s an ‘internal matter’ of India and if any thing has to be sorted it must be done bilaterally.Since August 5 when Article 370 was scrapped, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has been on a massive outreach programme.He travelled to China, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Hungary, Indonesia and the Maldives, to explain the Indian government’s stated position on Jammu and Kashmir.Sahasrabuddhe said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given Jaishankar the task to convince UNHRC members that Kashmir is an internal matter of India.