Urges Inclusion of Suffering Communities
KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Nov 14: The Voice of Dogras, a community group rooted in the historical and cultural legacy of Jammu and Kashmir, has issued a strong protest against the Oxford Union’s upcoming debate on “Independence for Kashmir,” citing concerns over the event’s potential misrepresentation of Jammu and Kashmir’s history and the inclusion of speakers allegedly linked to terrorist organizations.
In a letter addressed to the President and Members of the Oxford Union, a copy of which is in possession of Kashmir Despatch, the Voice of Dogras urged the debate organizers to reconsider the event, condemning the decision to invite speakers with alleged connections to extremist groups, such as Zafar Khan and Muzzamil Ayyub, whose past associations reportedly include ties to violence and terrorism.
The Voice of Dogras expressed profound disappointment over what they see as an “offensive” and “misleading” portrayal of the Kashmir issue, undermining the sovereignty of India and the sacrifices made by the region’s people. In their letter, the organization emphasized the pivotal historical role played by the Dogra community in securing Jammu and Kashmir’s place within the Indian Union, particularly referencing Maharaja Hari Singh, the Dogra ruler whose Instrument of Accession to India in 1947 set the foundation for Jammu and Kashmir’s democratic alignment with India.
“Our community has endured a long history of suffering and sacrifice,” reads the letter, detailing the decades-long trauma faced by the Dogra population, Kashmiri Hindus, and other nationalists who have been subjected to massacres, forced displacements, and attacks.
“These atrocities, aimed at erasing our cultural and religious presence in districts such as Jammu, Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi, are inseparable from our history, as communities who stood by India’s sovereignty despite the immense personal cost.”
The Voice of Dogras raised particular concerns over the Oxford Union’s decision to include speakers who have “sympathized with groups that waged campaigns of terror against civilians and Indian soldiers,” recalling the horrors of the 1990s that saw mass killings of Hindu communities and systemic targeting of Indian defense personnel. “The rhetoric of ‘independence’ has been used to unleash Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in our homeland,” the letter states, condemning the potential for the debate to “trivialize the trauma faced by the victims of terrorism and violence.”
The group further criticized the Oxford Union’s approach, calling on the institution to ensure balanced representation in any discussion on Jammu and Kashmir’s future. They highlighted the exclusion of voices from the Dogra community, Kashmiri Hindus, and people from Pakistan-Occupied Jammu Kashmir (POJK), who have suffered the most from insurgency and violent extremism.
The letter points out that while Jammu and Kashmir recently conducted successful legislative elections, showcasing a commitment to a democratic process, POJK continues to see uprisings against Pakistani control, with local populations demanding independence from what they describe as “illegal occupation.”
The Voice of Dogras argued that the focus should shift to Pakistan’s occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, which has reportedly seen the expulsion and targeted persecution of Hindus and Sikhs, along with ongoing human rights violations.
The organization called for a responsible, empathetic, and historically accurate debate that acknowledges the realities faced by communities most affected by terrorism and insurgency. They stressed that any discussion on Jammu and Kashmir’s independence must be handled with a commitment to truth, urging the Oxford Union to give serious consideration to the letter and cancel the debate. If not, the Voice of Dogras strongly advocated for the inclusion of representatives from communities who have borne the brunt of decades of unrest.
The letter reflects the Voice of Dogras’ hope that the Oxford Union will uphold its responsibility to promote an inclusive and accurate dialogue on complex geopolitical issues, rather than amplifying voices that may propagate one-sided narratives. The organization awaits a response from the Oxford Union, trusting that the matter will be handled with the seriousness it deserves.
