SRINAGAR: Kashmiri leader, Begum Khalida Shah believes that the Indian government is trying to erase the history of Kashmir.
Khalida hit out at the Indian government for stripping the occupied territory of autonomy on August 5 and dismantling Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday as a state holiday in the valley.
Khalida in an interview with Al Jazeera, at her home in Srinagar, where she has been under house arrest since August last year said, “It is definitely hurtful”. “Indian government is trying to erase the history of Kashmir by doing this,” she added.
Referring to the removal of Sheikh Abdullah’s anniversary celebration by India’s governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), daughter of veteran Kashmiri.leader known as ‘Sher e Kashmir’ (Lion of Kashmir) said India efforts to erase Kashmir rich histry will not bare any fruits.
On August 5 last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian constitution. Article 370 allowed Kashmir to have its own flag, a separate constitution and the freedom to make laws.
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Kashmiris also fear that after the revocation of the region’s special status India will aim for a demographic change in the Muslim-majority region.
Angry at India’s recent actions in Kashmir, Khalida Shah said her family “became enemies with people for siding with India”. Three generations of the Abdullah family ruled the region for most of the last seven decades.
Her father’s rose to prominence in 1931 when he led Kashmiri resistance against the Dogra family ruling the region.
Kashmiri analysts told Al Jazeera that New Delhi was working to impose their version of history in Kashmir.
The Indian government has declared October 26 as Accession Day to commemorate the signing of the Instrument accession by its ruler Hari Singh in 1947.
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