While India has always positioned itself as the largest democracy in the world and a growing power, its treatment of minorities, notably Muslims, calls into question its commitment to the principles of democracy. Indian government under Prime Minister Modi once again revealed their criminal mindset and biasness towards the Kashmiri people, when Indian authorities avoided discussing Kashmir conflict in G-20 summit. India has repeatedly committed human rights violations, illegal detention of political figures, enforced lockdowns to suppress the voice of the people, execution innocent Kashmiris who call for freedom, and restriction on access to the internet and media to cover up their violent propaganda. G-20 or Group of 20 countries is an intergovernmental organization with aim to address the global issues. This year, India hosted the eighteen annual summit of the G-20 but all the session of summit reflected Indian interest more than any real address of global issues.
Ahead of the G-20 summit in New Delhi, Amnesty International and five different human rights organizations issued an open letter demanding an end to human rights abuses in Kashmir and the release of imprisoned human rights activists and political detainees in light of Indian crimes. The letter, focused on to delegates of G-20 member countries, guest countries, and invited international organizations, was signed by Amnesty International, the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Front Line Defenders, and the Kashmir Law & Justice Project. It raised concerns about human rights violations taking place in IIOJK. The letter demands G-20 members to raise these concerns with the Indian government openly and directly in accordance with their duties according to international law and calls on India to abide by its responsibilities under international law. Since India removed Jammu and Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in 2019 by revoking Articles 370A and 35A, the government has “continued its repressive policies, such as limiting freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association and failing to investigate and prosecute suspected violations carried out by its military, paramilitary, police, and other forces.”
Furthermore, they urged Indian authorities to stop its “longstanding restriction of international civil communities and inter-governmental organizations” and permit civil society to operate freely in IIOJK. Persons should not be arbitrarily detained or arrested for simply exercising their human rights. Such harmful activities must be held accountable, and there must be a way out. Indian government has often been urged to address the core problems with the country’s anti-terrorism legislation and its abuse to slander and suppress human rights activists. Khurram Parvez, a well-known human rights advocate, was unfairly imprisoned by India’s National Investigation Agency in November 2021. According to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Parvez, the director of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), was detained for “funding terrorism under the guise of protecting human rights.” Irfan Mehra, a well-known Kashmiri journalist who had collaborated with JKCCS, was detained by the National Investigation Agency in March 2023 as a result of his affiliation with the non-profit group.
The disputed land has been a source of contention between India and Pakistan since 1947, and each country currently controls a section of it. In order to create a Hindu nationalist state in Kashmir, the BJP uses draconian laws and policies. Punishment and authoritarian laws are used to suppress civilians, deny bail, stifle social movements and dissent in civil society, punish expressions of grief, rage, and mourning, and harm media coverage of human rights issues. By hosting the G-20 meeting in IIOJK, India hoped to demonstrate that the situation in IIOJK following the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A is normal and that the international community should accept this contentious decision. India, despite conducting a G-20 Tourism meeting in Srinagar, has not discussed the Kashmir issue rather the Modi government resorted to impose strict curfew and banned free movement of Kashmiri residents in the area. The whole episode is evidence to that ‘India is no more democracy’.
