Online Desk: Another year of humiliation, injustice and oppression has passed. Will a change in the calendar year bring a change to these circumstances? If I were a Kashmiri, this is what would have come to my mind when I saw the date of August 5 in the calendar. The thought that I cannot do anything about this humiliation, injustice and oppression makes me small in my own eyes.

I would also see with some sadness and pain that the date that reminds me of humiliation and oppression is a day of jubilation for most of the rest of India. What is a symbol of subjugation for me is a symbol of victory for them. The devilish joy of taking over a piece of land to make it part of Hindustan completely. Or, if they had the ability to speak the truth, they would say that this joy is actually of crushing an entire population. To end its existence.

August 5 is glorified by claiming that on this day, Kashmir completely accepted the Indian constitution. There cannot be a bigger lie or deception than this. Parliament itself killed the soul of the Indian constitution when it nullified Article 370. It was a way of breaking the thread that kept Kashmiris connected to India.

Article 370 was not a wall between India and Kashmir that had to be broken to unite the hearts of both. It was a promise by India to Kashmir that the government of India or parliament alone could not change. For any kind of change, the approval of the constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir was mandatory. In its absence, any change could be made only with the approval of the legislative assembly of the state.

But when the legislative assembly itself was suspended and central rule was imposed, then how could the approval of the governor be considered equal to the approval of the legislative assembly?

The legislative assembly comprises the representatives of the people. Elected by them. They express the opinion of the people of the state. The governor is not the representative of the people; he is the representative of the Union government. Then how was he considered equal to the legislative assembly? But it was done brazenly, and even the Supreme Court accepted it as right.

Kashmir after August 5, 2019 is a mirror for India. After that – although it was happening even before that day – the ‘Kashmirisation’ of India has been taking place. The usurpation of the rights of its people, the tyranny of governors in the states, the arbitrariness of the Union government. Slowly, people are realising that they have been rendered completely powerless after being given the pleasure of annexing territories like Kashmir.

But if they want their independence back, then they will have to fight for the independence of Kashmiris. India will not enjoy peace until the crime committed against Kashmir is atoned for.