At a public meeting on Saturday, 31 August, United States Presidential contender and independent senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, raised concerns on the situation in Kashmir after the Indian government’s abrogation of Article 370, that granted special status to Jammu & Kashmir.
Sanders said that India’s crackdown in the Valley in the name of “security” was unacceptable and that the United States government must speak out boldly against the actions in Kashmir.
“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Kashmir where the Indian government has revoked Kashmiri autonomy, cracked down on dissent, and instituted a communications blackout”, Sanders said, adding that the crackdown is also denying Kashmiri people access to healthcare.
“Even many respected doctors in India have acknowledged that the Indian government restrictions on travel are threatening the life-saving care that patients need,” Sanders said.
Asking for the communications blockade to be lifted immediately, he also said that the US government must speak out boldly in support of international humanitarian law in Kashmir and push for a ‘UN-backed peaceful resolution that respects the will of the Kashmiri people”.
Earlier, members of the US Congress like Andy Levin, Ilhan Omar and Ted Lieu had spoken against what they called the “trampling of democratic rights” in Kashmir.
This comes at a time when India has rejected the possibility of any international mediation in the Kashmir issue, calling it an “internal matter”.
PM Modi also met US President Donald Trump barely three days ago at the G7 Summit in France, after which Trump said that Modi had the Kashmir situation “under control”.
PM Modi is scheduled to visit New York for the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly later this month.
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