Bill on IoK introduced in US House of Representatives

NEW YORK (92 News) – A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives urging India to end the restrictions on communications and mass detentions in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK) and preserve religious freedom for all residents. The bill moved by Pramila Jayapal said that people across the US maintain ties with family and friends in Occupied Kashmir and have reported difficulty contacting their loved ones since the communications blockade was imposed on August 5. The bill asked India to allow international human rights observers and journalists to access the territory. It further asked India to swiftly release arbitrarily detained people in occupied Kashmir and refrain from conditioning the release of detained people on their willingness to sign bonds prohibiting any political activities and speeches. In occupied Kashmir, unabated military siege and lockdown continue to affect the daily life in the Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu region on 126th straight day, today. A sense of fear prevails among the local population due to the imposition of restrictions under Section 144 in the territory. Shops and other business establishments are mostly closed and educational institutions and offices wear a deserted look as mark of people’s disobedience against Indian occupation, particularly anti-Kashmir steps taken by India on August 5. The suspension of internet, text messaging and prepaid mobile services continues to haunt almost all segments of the society including students, businessmen, doctors and patients. Senior Congress leader and former Indian Finance Minister P Chidambaram has said that the freedom was being denied to 75 lakh people in the Kashmir valley. P Chidambaram addressing a press conference in Channai after release from Delhi prison dubbed the Indian government “retrograde”.