HOW THE INDIAN PUBLIC OPINION CAN TRANSFORM BJP’S KASHMIR POLICY?

Authors

  • Dr. Moonis Ahmar

Keywords:

Democracy, Political Pluralism, Fanaticism, Extremism, Article 370 and 35-A

Abstract

India claims to be the world’s biggest democracy with 1.3 billion population.
Constitutionally a secular state, images of violence unleashed against the minorities
particularly Muslims, causing gross human rights violation in its occupied Valley of
Kashmir, is a major contradiction which one can observe in India today. One can argue
that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s act of August 5 got the endorsement from both
houses of Indian parliament despite the fact that in Rajiya Sabha (upper house) BJP lacks
majority. Except Communist Party of India, a section of Congress party and couple of
left oriented political groups, other political parties rendered their support for revoking
article 370 and 35-A. Modi’s level of confidence which he expressed after August 5 2019 in
dealing with dangerous situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir and growing
international criticism is primarily because of what he perceived the support from the
majority of people. This paper will examine the dynamics of Indian public opinion in
‘new’ India shaped by Hindu nationalism and the marginalization of political pluralism,
tolerance and secularism. Will Modi’s Kashmir policy be effectively challenged by those
who fear their country drifting towards an authoritarian, fascist and Hindu extremist
state? Can the Indian media and civil society come up with a strong counter narrative
rejecting BJP/Shiv Sena ideological thrust on secular India? How the voices of dissent on
Modi’s Kashmir policy will get an impetus if India is bogged down in occupied Jammu
and Kashmir (J&K) and faces physical casualties in the event of a guerrilla warfare?

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Published

2020-12-31

How to Cite

Ahmar, D. M. . (2020). HOW THE INDIAN PUBLIC OPINION CAN TRANSFORM BJP’S KASHMIR POLICY?. Strategic Thought, 2, 99–113. Retrieved from https://strategicthought.ndu.edu.pk/site/article/view/66

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