Cultural 'invasion' remarks of some J&K politicians now come under spotlight

The Pahalgam attack came amid statements by senior J&K netas terming the growing arrivals of non-locals, including tourists, in the UT as a demographic and cultural “invasion."

For instance, PDP neta and Pulwama MLA Waheed Parra in a recent interview highlighted the growing fears of demographic changes in Kashmir , citing the issuance of over 83,742 domicile certificates to non-natives in the last two years. He described this as a deliberate attempt to alter the region’s identity and marginalise its indigenous population. “After abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A (in 2019), there is a gripping fear among the people of J&K about possible demographic change, about being unnumbered, and about outside people being added without their knowledge. It is about us, our land.”

National Conference MP Ruhullah Mehdi recently objected to non-local tourists thronging J&K. “The tourism that is now happening... I won’t call it tourism... in my eyes, it is a cultural invasion, by purpose and by design,” he had said. Mehdi had warned that just like the anger of Kashmiris against their autonomy being taken away in 1953 led to the birth of militancy 40 years later, the events of 2019 are bound to result in an angry outburst at some point of time. “We have created a wound that will someday lead to a retaliatory outburst.”

Both Parra and Mehdi were, however, quick to condemn the Pahalgam attack, saying that they stand united against terror.