Indian Prime Minister's Visit, A 2700 Crore Project, and Protests???

Indian Prime Minister's Visit, A 2700 Crore Project, and Protests??? Written by: Shah Nawaz Ali Sher, Advocate, Member of Joint Public Action Committee Nakial Kotli, General Secretary Bar Association Nakial Fateh Pur Thakiala Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated a modern tunnel built at a cost of 27 billion rupees in the Sonamarg area of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. This 6.5-kilometer-long tunnel is part of a highway connecting the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, ensuring year-round connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh. This tunnel is not only an engineering marvel but also a beacon of hope for a bright future for the people of the Kashmir Valley. While the Indian government is ushering in a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir, the failure of governance and leadership in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir is becoming more evident. The double standards of the ruling class here are clear. These leaders, who are observing a "Black Day" during Modi's visit, are the same ones who, despite receiving billions of rupees in aid and funds from Pakistan, have done nothing. How can they criticize Indian authorities with any credibility? The fact is that "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" is also a disputed region, constituting only 20% of the entire Jammu and Kashmir state. Its future is tied to the fate of the whole region. So, how dare these leaders protest Modi’s visit? After all, when Pakistan’s Prime Minister, President, and other officials visit here, these same leaders fall at their feet, use government resources lavishly to welcome them, and force the public to come out on the streets to greet them. The height of these Pakistani rulers' ineptitude is that when Indian Prime Minister Modi offers development packages for his region, they mock these funds and projects. Meanwhile, they fail to improve the living standards of their own people. Yet, when they receive even a modest package from Pakistan, they praise it endlessly for the rest of their lives. Despite this, the people of "Azad Jammu and Kashmir" remain deprived of basic amenities. Are there any mega projects here? Has there been any notable improvement in health, education, or infrastructure? Have the rulers of this region ever requested more developmental packages or projects from Indian officials? The answer to these questions is likely no. The backwardness of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is such that no health, education, employment, or tourism institution here compares to those in Punjab, Pakistan, especially Rawalpindi. People here still have to travel to Rawalpindi for even minor health issues. So, the question arises: do these rulers have any moral basis for criticizing the projects of Indian Prime Minister Modi? If these rulers genuinely want to do something for their people, they must first empower themselves, strengthen their legislative assembly, and then stage a real protest. Only then will their protest not only be reasonable but also have international significance. The ruling class of Azad Jammu and Kashmir needs to elevate their standard of living. As long as these rulers fail to address the basic needs of their people, their protests will only be seen as a mockery. This is why, when these rulers protest against Indian officials, their stance appears to be distant from the truth and lacks credibility. It is important to understand that real government action for development and change can create the moral basis for protests against external powers. However, when the rulers themselves neglect their public responsibilities and act as facilitators, their protests will be seen as mere showmanship and self-interest. The purpose of this article is to highlight that the rulers who have enslaved themselves have no credibility when protesting against Indian officials. They must first change themselves, transform this region, raise their dignity and standards, and only then should they criticize others. Just as Modi’s visit and development packages are harming the future of the people of the region and the national question of Jammu and Kashmir, similarly, the actions of your Pakistani rulers are no less detrimental to our national freedom. In the divided state of Jammu and Kashmir, we call for an end to India and Pakistan’s political interference and demand protests within these divided regions to stop their respective facilitators from misleading the public. (End)