Row erupts over event on rights abuses in Kashmir

Protesting ABVP workers damage college property, lodge plaint

Saturday’s event on human rights abuses in Kashmir has snowballed into a controversy. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), on Sunday protested outside United Theological College (UTC) where the programme was held even as Kashmiri voices criticised its “hypernationalism”.

The Bengaluru police detained 35 ABVP activists when their protests turned violent and they damaged the college board and a few light bulbs. They were later let off.

Meanwhile, police are acting cautiously on a written complaint given by the ABVP for action against people who raised pro-Kashmir slogans at Saturday’s event.

Amnesty International India, which had organised ‘Broken Families’, an interaction with families of Kashmiri youth killed in fake encounters, called for empathising with the victims and said the media must not publicise troublemakers.

K S R Charan Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Police (West), told Deccan Herald that they were checking the footage of the event. The subject will be broached with senior police officers and then a case will be registered against the guilty under appropriate sections, he said. Another senior police officer said they were trying to contact the organiser.

The ABVP has upped the ante. Prem S, member of the ABVP’s national council, objected to anti-India slogans. “The Indian army is keeping us safe from terrorists, so how could they raise slogans against them,” he said and demanded action against the organisers and the sloganeers. He said the ABVP did not want an atmosphere similar to JNU to be created in a peaceful city like Bengaluru. The outfit also demanded that Amnesty International be banned and its activities investigated. It also sought a ban on United Theological College because “we have heard rumours that it conducts several such anti-national events”.

“They (Amnesty International) gave the police false information that the event was about human rights violations in Kashmir when it was actually an anti-national event to mislead the youth,” Prem suggested.

Tanveer Ajsi, a Kashmiri art professional who was present at the event on Saturday, slammed the ABVP for creating a ruckus at the venue. “People have a low opinion of the ABVP but when it comes to the Kashmir issue they are suddenly seen as custodians of nationalism,” he said.

He urged people to look at “genuine” sentiments of Kashmiris, not the slogans. “Kashmiris are oppressed in their own land. The prime minister talks about the plight of people in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, but what about those in India Occupied Kashmir,” he demanded.

Amnesty International India released a statement, saying that as a matter of policy it does not take any position in favour of or against demand for self-determination.

The statement also quoted Tara Rao, Programmes Director, Amnesty International India, as saying, “It is important that media attention to the conduct of some of those who attended the event not serve as a distraction from the important issues of the denial of truth and justice to those who have suffered in Jammu and Kashmir.”