India loves Kashmir but hates Kashmiris seeking freedom from India. India loves Kashmir but refuses to accept it as a disputed area despite UN resolutions on Kashmir granting plebiscite to the people of Kashmir. India continues to occupy Kashmir and dominate it through army and paramilitary intervention. Civil rule in Kashmir is a far cry with recent attempts to segregate Kashmir from India and indulge in a war build-up, as a run-up to the general elections.

I love Kashmir and our fight is for Kashmir but not against Kashmiris”, says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This belated statement may help in containing the tide of violence against Kashmiris across India, but it has a dangerous overtone. It is a manifestation of the fact that India can go against those Kashmiris who stand up for their rights and who dissent against India’s military domination of Kashmir.

As the Prime Minister talks peace, teaching lessons to Kashmir and Kashmiris has begun. While the valley continues to be a bastion for the Indian armed forces with full impunity and powers under various imperialistic repressive laws, India is hardening its stand on the legal and political front too.

Withdrawing the security of pro-Kashmiri freedom leaders has now led to their arrests.  Denouncing the arrests former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said, “Scores of Jamait-e-Islami volunteers and Hurriyat leaders have been arbitrarily detained in the last 24 hours.” She appropriately quipped, “You can arrest a person, not his ideas.”

“Scores of Jamait-e-Islami volunteers and Hurriyat leaders have been arbitrarily detained in the last 24 hours. You can arrest a person, not his ideas.”

Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister, Jammu & Kashmir

An iron curtain is being built between India and Kashmir in the wake of the possibility of expected public protests against the proposed annulment of Section 53A of the Indian Constitution, which debars non-Kashmiris to buy property in Kashmir.

Furthermore, India is perhaps planning to strike again in Pakistan.  The BJP and other right wing organisations are likely to again raise the alarm of annulment of Article 370 also which article gives special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir.

Soon after the Pulwama violence, the import duties on goods from Pakistan enhanced from 20 to 200 percent. Pakistan is no longer a Most Favoured Nation for India. Cricketing ties have been blurred.

Rhetoric is at its peak, with the Bharatiya Janta Party and leaders of its branches calling for revenge. India is preparing for the general elections in early May 2019. Indian political parties have already begun electioneering, building and breaking alliances as a run-up to the polls. The ruling Indian party –the Bharatiya Janta Party is in overdrive to return to power again.

The old adage goes, “all is fair in love and war.” In India Today, it is easy to expand this to say “all is fair in love, war and politics.” The ruling classes and those expecting to become the ruling class will say and do whatever helps in gaining an extra vote. They will not say and not do anything which decreases their tally by a single vote.