Srinagar, Sep 28 (KNO): A firebrand Congress youth leader, Kanhaiya Kumar on Saturday criticized the Government of India (GoI) for propagating a false narrative of peace in Kashmir, saying there is stark difference between mere silence and genuine peace.
Kumar, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while delivering a brief speech in the heart of Sopore town, once known as a separatist stronghold, accused the government of creating an illusion of normalcy through media manipulation amidst ongoing assembly elections.
While dismissing the claims made by the Government of India, he said that their narrative lacks credibility. “There’s a big difference between silence and peace," he said, adding that genuine peace will only be achieved when the rights of the Kashmiri people are fully respected.
Drawing a personal connection to Sopore, he mentioned that a former Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), hailed from the town.
He said that the ongoing political battle is not just against the ruling party but against the broader ideologies of the BJP and RSS, which he accused of spreading hatred and divisiveness.
Kumar called upon the people of Kashmir to support this fight, urging them to view it from a broader perspective of securing their rights and shaping a better future.
Kanhaiya while speaking over downgrading Jammu and Kashmir from a State to a Union Territory called it a blatant attack on the constitutional rights of the people.
“It’s the first time in India's history that a state has been converted into a Union Territory, which is a clear violation of the people’s rights," Kumar said. While assuring the restoration of Statehood, he said that "We promise the people that the statehood will be restored, and it will happen, no matter what".
Responding to questions about the government’s policies, Kumar said that the GoI has been relying on a “false narrative” for the past decade, misleading the public with lies.
In a message to the youth of Kashmir, Kumar while evoking the spirit of Bhagat Singh, said that revolution is not achieved through violence but by changing mindsets and ideologies.
He encouraged the youth to remain steadfast in their struggle for their rights—(KNO)