Congressional hearing: More witnesses testify on human rights violations by India in Kashmir

• US lawmakers expressed their concern and agreed that India should give access to international/United Nation observers and journalists.

The Congressional Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission held a second hearing on Thursday to examine the human rights situation in the former state of Indian-occupied Kashmir (IoK)

During the hearing, more witnesses testified against Indian atrocities in IoK. The witnesses agreed that children in the region should not be tortured and that adults should not be detained. They added India should give access to international/United Nation observers and journalists.

During the hearing, witness Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said that she has been closely following the situation in IoK. Jayapal is also the first woman of Indian descent to be elected to the US House of Representatives. “I am deeply concerned by the Indian government’s actions in Kashmir, to detain people without charge, severely limit communications and block third parties from visiting are harmful to our close and critical relationship," she said.

Jayapal said the question of religious intolerance has been plaguing her as as one of the great things about India is its attenion to religious freedom.

USCIRF's @CommrBhargava and @RepJayapal discussing the issues that are taking place in #JammuAndKashmir. So great to see two strong Indian women having this conversation. #KashmirInUSCongress pic.twitter.com/zP5y73yZTJ

— USCIRF (@USCIRF) November 14, 2019

Anurima Bhargava who is the commissioner from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said that religious freedom and the rights and freedoms of Muslim communities are being curtailed as a consequence of the Indian government’s actions.

"India’s religious minorities currently stand at a precipice. If the Indian government continues on its current trajectory, their livelihood, rights, and freedoms could be in serious danger,"Bhargava said who is also of Indian descent. The commissioner added that it is impossible to get accurate data on religious freedom when USCIRF not permitted to visit India in 15 years.

Arjun S. Sethi, human rights lawyer and Adjunct Professor, during his turn said that India's Bharatiya Janata Party is the political ring of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He added that Indian PM Narendra Modi himself trained with the RSS and said Modi is proud to be a member of RSS.

Modi today is forging a new India where non-Hindus are second class subjects with limited rights, Sethi said. "Today India more closely resembles an authoritative regime than a pluralistic public," Sethi said.

He said India is hiding its hate violence, atrocities in IoK and that is the reason it is not allowing journalists from visiting the area. He further said that Indian armed forces are torturing children in Kashmir to death and blinding people to death.

Yousra Fazili a human rights lawyer also highlighted the plight of Kashmiris including her own cousin who was taken away by Indian forces during a mid-night raid after August 5.

Meanwhile, Sunanda Vashisht said that India has not occupied Kashmir and that Kashmir was never a separate part. She said Kashmir is an integral part of India and has always been, adding, "There is no Kashmir without India and there is no India without Kashmir".