GENEVA: Activists, journalists from Jammu and Kashmir, European Union parliamentarians and foreign experts have hailed the government of India’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution.
At a discussion titled ‘Jammu and Kashmir: Sifting facts from fiction’ in Geneva on the sidelines of the 43rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), participants focused on Pakistan’s interference in J&K amid its deteriorating human rights record.
Former Member of European Parliament, Nathan Gill, appreciated the government of India’s decision to abrogate Article 370. Gill said that it was appropriate to fight against terrorism as well as give equal treatment to the people in Kashmir, Indian media reports have said.
Likewise, a woman activist from Kashmir, Syed Tehmeena, maintained that the women in J&K will enjoy better rights after the abrogation of Article 370.
Tehmeena said that a girl from Kashmir marrying outside the state will not lose her property rights now.
A Kashmiri woman who married outside Kashmir in the past, she and her children were not having the right to own a property in Kashmir. She said that a Kashmiri girl will be able to buy a land and house.
Tehmeena stated that Pakistan has no right to interfere in the issue of Kashmir while suggesting the country to work to improve its own government system and legislation.
Member of the European Parliament, Gianna Gancia, spoke about the deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan.
Gancia said people from minority communities are suffering a lot in Pakistan.
She also stated that India’s move to introduce the Citizenship Amendment Act will help and support the persecuted minority community to get citizenship in India.
Former Director of the European Commission, Brian Toll, noted that Kashmir being the most beautiful part of the world, it faced some worst years because of the rise in terrorism with Pakistan’s support.
Likewise, Senge Sering, President of Gilgit Baltistan Studies maintained that Pakistan has used Gilgit Baltistan as the launch-pad for terrorists.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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