1. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference has reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir’s status as an international dispute is undeniable, rebuking India’s claims of it being an internal matter and its efforts to create a narrative of normalization through sham assembly elections. In a statement in Srinagar, APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas emphasized that UN Security Council resolutions attest the Kashmir conflict’s international nature. He condemned the BJP-led Indian government’s systematic undermining of Kashmiris’ rights, particularly after the illegal abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Minhas argued that India cannot unilaterally remove the Kashmir issue from the UNSC without addressing the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. The APHC reaffirmed that the call for a plebiscite, as mandated by UN resolutions, remains a legitimate demand that India continues to ignore, jeopardizing stability in South Asia.
2. Jailed Hurriyat leader Bilal Siddiqi, in a statement from Srinagar Central Jail, slammed the Modi government’s orchestrated visits for diplomats from around 15 countries to observe ongoing sham elections in IIOJK. He asserted that New Delhi aims to project an image of normalcy in the occupied territory through these choreographed tours. Siddiqi urged foreign diplomats to see the ulterior motives behind this initiative and advocate for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
3. At least 61 schools in Baramulla district have been closed following their occupation by Indian forces’ personnel, raising significant concerns among the local population about the impact on students and the continuity of their education.
4. The occupation authorities have suspended another Kashmiri Muslim officer, Masood Ahmed Qazi, in Kishtwar district, raising alarms about targeted actions against local officials. Since August 2019, there have been numerous suspensions and dismissals of Muslim government employees, often justified by various pretexts.
5. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Indian parliament, addressing rallies in Sopore and Jammu, expressed concern over decisions imposed by outsiders that marginalize the Kashmiris. He criticized the BJP regime-appointed IIOJK Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for favoring external parties in contract awards, which, he said, undermines local interests and contributes to economic distress for the people of the territory.
6. Mehbooba Mufti, President of the People’s Democratic Party, spoke to reporters in Jammu, declaring that the BJP will never form a government in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. She emphasized her commitment to supporting any secular government that seeks to keep the saffron party out of power in the territory.