As India undergoes nationwide elections, spanning from April to June 2024, the spotlight on Indian-occupied Kashmir intensifies. Prominent parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress are vying for power. For indigenous Kashmiris, these elections represent the looming threat of further land dispossession, ethnic cleansing, and the worsening of an ongoing ecocide. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the BJP has leveraged Kashmir for political gain amidst a rising tide of Hindu nationalism and weaponization of Islamophobia. These politics of hate serve to further India’s settler colonial ambitions in the contested Muslim-majority region, marked by an escalation in oppression and environmental degradation during the current government’s tenure.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Kashmir has witnessed a seismic shift in its governance structure. This legislative maneuver, which stripped Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status, consolidated the Indian government’s power in the region. Consequently, Kashmir’s climate and environmental vulnerability increased. Legislative actions have placed Kashmir’s environment in danger.
Read More: Unmasking Water Apartheid: India’s Dam Projects and Environmental Devastation in Occupied Kashmir
At a time when climate action dominates international discourse, the environmental consequences of occupation in Kashmir are overlooked. Environmental justice and protection of indigenous rights are endangered. The ruling party continues to perpetuate hate-filled rhetoric fanning Islamophobia, and instilling more seeds for expansionist settler-colonial dreams within the average Indian citizen.
The once pristine landscape hailed as the ‘Third Pole’, now bears scars of relentless ecocide. The increased construction of military infrastructure since 2019 has intensified environmental devastation. From the disruption of natural river flows, and increased flood risks to the deforestation of over 250 hectares of forested land.
This cycle of devastation has had far-reaching social consequences. Tourism has produced thousands of tonnes of waste with poor waste management negatively impacting biodiversity levels.
Recently, the Government’s plans to auction and mine lithium reserves in Kashmir suggest further land dispossession, environmental degradation and continued water disputes for indigenous communities. The environmental damage caused by large-scale lithium mining on Jammu and Kashmir’s already fragile ecology will result in water scarcity, affecting a rural district where 5.9 million tonnes of lithium mines have been discovered. It will degrade water sources like the Chenab River and contribute to the glacial melt of the Himalayan mountain ranges. With all eyes on India’s elections, we must remain steadfast in our demand for environmental and human rights for all.
Crackdowns, Curfews and Lockdowns Are Threatening Livelihoods and Food Security
The 2019 elections set a distressing precedent for the citizens of Kashmir. The influx of military personnel alongside increased restrictions and school closures to accommodate 700,000 soldiers negatively affected daily life. With the 2024 elections now underway across India, Kashmiris will likely face an increase in these oppressive, restrictive and disruptive measures.
In a region where 70% of the population relies on agriculture, the excessive militarisation and oppressive government measures jeopardize Kashmir’s food security. Frequent and continual land seizures, imposition of curfews, communication shutdowns, regional lockdowns, and destruction of homes and land have culminated in severe disruptions to food systems. Poverty and malnutrition have become synonymous with many areas of Kashmir, in Srinagar 27% of children under 5 suffer from stunted growth. Frequent lockdowns and curfews have seen farmers face challenges in cultivating their lands. Similarly stringent security measures have made the transportation of goods almost impossible.
Read More: What is Climate Colonialism?
Since 2019, the crackdown on Kashmir has intensified with the central government banning alternative political organizations and activists, suppressing political freedom and Kashmiri voices. Arbitrary arrests and detention have become common tactics used against journalists, activists and protestors who speak out against the draconian measures enforced in Kashmir. Some laws allow the Government and security forces to arrest and detain individuals without trial for up to 2 years. Recurrent communication blackouts, media restrictions, censorship and surveillance are used to repress and minimize reporting on these unjust policies.
Kashmir’s Indigenous Tribal Communities Are Endangered by Worsening Ecocide
The nomadic way of life for tribes in Kashmir is under threat. Tribes including Gujjar, Pahari and Bakarwal that rely on the land itself are facing mass displacement, home demolition, and ecocide due to legislative changes in Kashmir.
The Indian Government’s push for the ‘eviction and anti-encroachment drive’ has seen numerous instances of harassment and targeting of indigenous and tribal communities– from the felling of over 10,000 apple trees in Kanidajan to the razing of land in Pahalgam. The forced eviction of tribal communities from ancestral lands has had lasting negative impacts on the local environment.
Read More: Noah’s Ark of Resilience: Islam’s Response to Climate Fatalism
In Roop Nagar, over 233,000 square feet of land was claimed by authorities, resulting in the displacement of over 20 families. Authorities have continued to push indigenous communities towards destitution. The Government’s selective eviction drive has targeted the most vulnerable in society. These nomadic, tribal, and indigenous communities are pushed further into poverty and marginalization.
The BJP’s exploitation of Islamophobia amid increasing Hindu nationalism to secure electoral victories and retain power has dire consequences for the people of Kashmir. As elections unfold across India, it is crucial to scrutinize the glorification of India as a democracy and a leader in the green transition, given the nation’s divisive politics, ecocide and disregard for Kashmiri rights. The future of over nine million Kashmiris remains uncertain in the current climate.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Muslim Climate Watch’s editorial stance.
