ATHENS: Veteran Kashmiri leader and Chairman of Kashmir Institute of International Relations Altaf (KIIR) Wani denounced India’s assertions of development and normalcy in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
He described these claims as baseless, asserting that since August 5, 2019, Kashmiris have been stripped not only of their identity but also of their economic, social, and political rights by the Hindutva regime.
The leader dismissed India’s development assertions as mere propaganda aimed at bolstering its colonial agenda, offering no real benefits to the local populace.
He criticized India’s use of various tactics to reinforce its illegal occupation in IIOJK, including changes to domicile laws that grant job opportunities, voting rights, and land ownership in the disputed region.
Furthermore, he accused the Indian government of attempting to alter the religious landscape of IIOJK, citing plans to construct thousands of new temples despite the existence of only 490 temples in 1990.
The leader highlighted his ongoing efforts in Athens to raise awareness about the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding Kashmir issue, briefing Kashmiri and Pakistani diaspora communities on the severe conditions prevailing in IIOJK.