India is not only committing genocide against freedom-loving Muslims in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) but is also executing a deliberate plan to erase their culture and civilization.  During his recent visit to Srinagar, Indian Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, referred to the Shiva temple in Bhaderwah and other Hindu religious sites, stating the need to promote the territory’s cultural and spiritual aspects globally.

Addressing the concluding session of a two-day tourism conference held in Srinagar on July 7-8, Gajendra Singh said that Kashmir’s tourism is not limited to the scenic views of Dal Lake, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, etc., but its “ancient cultural and spiritual heritage” also needs to be highlighted worldwide.   However, while mentioning Hindu religious sites, he completely ignored the Islamic centers, shrines, and Khanqahs of Kashmir — a clear reflection of his malice, bias, and anti-Muslim agenda. 

This statement by the Indian Minister of Tourism and Culture has made it clear that the Modi government is bent on erasing the Muslim identity and Islamic civilization of the occupied territory. The BJP government’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019 primarily aimed to turn the Muslim majority into a minority and erase their culture and heritage. 

Since August 2019, the Modi government has issued domicile certificates to hundreds of thusands of Indian Hindus in Kashmir. It has also initiated large-scale confiscation and demolition of Kashmiri Muslims’ homes, lands, and other properties. The aim is to make Kashmiris strangers in their own homeland and transform the territory into a Hindu-majority area. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)