Honoring Modi by two Gulf states put Kashmiris in the dark

Faruque Ahmed
Two Gulf States awarded their highest civilian honor to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week in Dubai and Bahrain with lavish words of praise to the Indian Prime Minister’s leadership to make India great.
Narendra Modi was awarded the highest civilian award of UAE—the ‘Order of Zayed’ which the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hanged on his neck on August 25. In Bahrain the ‘Order of Remanence’ was awarded to Narendra Modi from the royal court on the first ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to this country.
Both the events took place in a single day at a time when many in the region and even the world all over decried the Indian Prime Minister’s action in Kashmir that removed the autonomy of the state virtually strangulating the Kashmiri Muslims. It turned the state into an ‘occupied region’ as most commentators say.
What he has done, most people believe, will have longer and severe consequences. Kashmiris would be forced to fight back for human rights and political freedom in a situation in which they may find them in a Palestine like occupation’ situation.
Terrorism and bloodbaths may flare up, many fear to ultimately provoke India and Pakistan into a larger conflicts across the border. This is what will be impact of removing the autonomy in the long run previously granted to Kashmiri people by Indian government under the UN charter until a final solution to the disputed regions being worked out.
Moreover observers say, removal of protection over their land and jobs will also open way to creating Indian settlements buying land in the state by resurgent Himdu population. Access to job for people from outside Kashmir which was not so far allowed will also eventually turn to change the local demography reducing Kashmiri Muslims to minority.
Every country has the right to honor leaders as they like, but what many are ignoring is that they must have their equal right to speak against oppression, occupation, and injustice and to make the demand that wrong should be turned into right.
They could even hold such event at a different time to refrain from giving the impression by some other ways that they are not supporting the Indian action or occupation at a time when all Kashmiri leaders were detained and the entire valley being shut to voice protest.
No telephone, internet is working, curfew prohibiting people from gathering in the streets to protest. One can’t deny the fact that rulers of the Gulf countries have in fact openly gave moral support to the Indian action on Kashmir on this occasion instead of asking for resolution of the problem.
What surprises many everywhere is what is restraining the rulers of the region from voicing protest or condemnation against such Indian action over Kashmiri Muslims so far were protected by autonomy under Indian constitution?
It appears that rich or wealthy Arab rulers are increasingly becoming selfish as they are detached from people’s support. Fear of security for their royal families made them highly calculative and lacking confidence dragging them from telling the truth or voicing the protest.
But they would be more honored if they could highlight the plight of the Kashmiri people or such other people reeling under occupation or threats of extermination on such occasions. But if they deny accepting such suggestions saying who they are that they should speak for, the weak bond of Muslim blood is so fragile now to raise such issue again.
Wealthy Arabs are least concerned on the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh where over 1.2 million refugees are overcrowding in the country coastal belt. They have long abandoned the Palestinian cause making Israel their reliable friend. They are fighting war in Yemen over the past five years making it a classic example of how Muslim can annihilate Muslims.
UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are at war in Libya to install a government of their choice. They have enforced a boycott on Qatar for achieving regime change. Wealthy Gulf nations are source of strength to Muslims nations all over but many believe the use of their power and resources to eliminate the perceived enemies or win the heart of the USA by becoming friend of Israel in the region is bringing big setback to the entire region and the Muslim world.
It can’t be imagined how some of these countries become USA allies in the Middle East primarily aiming at destroying Iran and protecting Israel. The situation was quite contrary only 10 years back and could continue so if rulers were able to chart out their own strategies.
The disclosure of e-mails and such other documents of UAE’s ambassador to Washington showed how they played the game.
It is true India is the biggest business partner of the Gulf countries. They in fact control the economy of some gulf states. But it does not mean that one should keep mum when fellow Muslims are facing annihilation and their habitat is being destroyed.
India is a big nation and know how to play regional and global politics. But if one does not raise vital issues and choose appeasing big neighbors, it is not India’s fault.