By Asian Marxist Review (AMR)
The Progressive Students’ Collective (PSC) has issued a statement condemning the recent escalation of repression against the mass movement in Jammu Kashmir and expressing solidarity with the people confronting the ongoing crackdown.
In its statement, the student organisation said that since 27 July, the region has witnessed a renewed wave of violence, with reports of numerous casualties and injuries following the deployment of paramilitary forces in areas including Rawalakot, Kotli, and Mirpur. The PSC argued that the use of force against demonstrators has intensified an already serious political and humanitarian situation.
The statement identifies the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) as the broad coalition leading the movement around democratic and economic demands. According to the PSC, rather than responding to these demands through dialogue, the authorities have relied on anti-terror legislation, arrests, and other coercive measures against organisers and supporters of the movement.
The organisation further stated that over the past two months, the people of Jammu Kashmir have experienced mass arrests, surveillance, internet shutdowns, restrictions on movement, and limitations on democratic freedoms. It also criticised attempts to portray participants in the movement as terrorists, arguing that these measures form part of a broader pattern of restrictions on political dissent.
Expressing solidarity with the people of Jammu Kashmir, the Progressive Students’ Collective condemned the use of force by paramilitary personnel and called for an immediate end to the violence. The organisation also demanded accountability for those responsible for the crackdown and urged the authorities to lift the ban on the Joint Awami Action Committee, arguing that recognition of the organisation is essential for any democratic resolution of the crisis.
The PSC’s statement adds to the growing number of messages of international solidarity issued by student organisations, trade unions, and progressive movements around the world, reflecting increasing concern over the ongoing developments in Jammu Kashmir and continued support for the movement’s democratic and economic demands.
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