It was perhaps a fitting coda to Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir. On October 25, the police booked students and staff...
It was perhaps a fitting coda to Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
On October 25, the police booked students and staff at two medical colleges in Srinagar for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in the recent T-20 World Cup match. They face charges under the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act, an anti-terror law, for allegedly “crying and dancing” after Pakistan won the match. Students and staff have been booked under Section 13 of the law, which prosecutes people who take part in or abet any unlawful activity.
It is not clear how supporting a particular sports team – a personal choice beyond the remit of the state – constitutes unlawful activity. Of course, right-wing politics has long demanded the support of a country’s national team as proof of patriotism, especially from communities regarded as suspect. In 1990s Britain, it was immigrants of Indian or Caribbean origin who were required to support the English cricket team over India’s.
In Kashmir, it is Kashmiri Muslim youth who must perform their loyalty to India, especially after decades of an armed movement for secession. Not doing so has been cast as seditious by the state.
A broad spectrum of activities can now draw terror charges in Kashmir. In the two years since August 5,...
