We the undersigned, express our grave concern regarding the current state of affairs in Kashmir. The disproportionate use of state violence on unarmed protesters in Kashmir reflects severe human rights violations. Setting aside the paramount concerns in terms of continuous interventions in the normal lives of the people, the alarming loss of civilian lives and reports of serious injuries, including blinding from pellet wounds are deeply disturbing.

Attacking hospitals, ambulances, stopping funeral processions and even burning down residential buildings cannot be the response of a democratic nation. The attack on civilians and the ethical implications this has on our armed forces are not justifiable. Images of police, army and task force brutalities against women, children and youth are spreading across the social media. At the same time, partial and prejudiced reports on television and print are becoming the basis for racism, regionalism and religious intolerance among people who are not afraid to bully Kashmiris and others minorities.

We appeal to our government to consider the state of affairs in Kashmir democratically prioritising the right of Kashmiri citizens to normal lives.

We plead before the state to subscribe to the constitutional rights guaranteed to each of its citizens, with an immediate repeal of AFSPA and the withdrawal of excessive military presence in Kashmir. We wish the idea of justice and liberty be evenly distributed and let the people of Kashmir be participants in a dialogue that involves their destiny.

Signatories

1. Amal Neerad, Film Director
2. Amit Upadhyay, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
3. Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Independent Scholar
4. Ashley Tellis, Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore
5. Asma Rasheed, English and Foreign Languages University
6. Avinash Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
7. Ayesha Kidwai, Jawaharlal Nehru University
8. Bindu Menon, Delhi University
9. Carmel Christy, University of California, Santa Cruz
10. Cheri Jacob K, Union Christian College, Mahatma Gandhi University
11. G. Arunima, Jawaharlal Nehru University
12. Geeta Kapur, Critic and Curator
13. Githa Hariharan, Writer
14. Gogu Shyamala, Writer and Activist
15. Janaki Nair, Jawaharlal Nehru University
16. Jayasree Kalathil, Survivor Research, United Kingdom
17. K. Sachidanandan, Writer and Academic
18. K. Satyanarayana, English and Foreign Languages University
19. K. Lalitha, Feminist Activist, Independent Scholar
20. K.R. Manoj, Film Director
21. Khairunnisa Nagathorike, Maulana Azad National Urdu University
22. Koonal Duggal, EFL University, Hyderabad
23. Mary E John, CWDS New Delhi
24. Mohan Dharavath, Independent Scholar, Activist
25. Moinak Biswas, Jadavpur University
26. Moushimi Basu, Jawaharlal Nehru University
27. Navaneetha Mokkil, Jawaharlal Nehru University
28. Nivedita Menon, Jawaharlal Nehru University
29. Parthasarathi Muthukkaruppan, English and Foreign Languages University
30. Paulomi Chakraborty, IIT Bombay
31. Pradip Datta, Jawaharlal Nehru University
32. Probal Dasgupta, Indian Statistical Institute
33. R. Srivatsan, Anveshi Hyderabad
34. Rajeev Ravi, Film Director, Cinematographer
35. Ramesh Bairy T S, IIT- Bombay
36. Ranjani Mazumdar, Jawaharlal Nehru University
37. Ranjith T., English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad
38. Ravichandran Bathran, IIAS Shimla
39. Ria De, English and Foreign Languages University
40. Rekha Pappu, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
41. Ritam Sen Gupta, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata
42. Satish Deshpande, Delhi University
43. Satish Poduval, English and Foreign Languages University
44. Shamnad Basheer, National Law School of India University, Bangalore
45. Sherin B.S., English and Foreign Languages University
46. Shilpaa Anand, Maulana Azad National Urdu University
47. Simona Sawhney, IIT Delhi
48. Sohnee Harshay, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
49. Sowmya Dechamma, University of Hyderabad
50. Sucharita Sen, Jawaharlal Nehru University
51. Shuddhabrata Sengupta, Artist, Raqs Media Collective and Contributor, Kafila,Org
52. Sudipto Mondal, Hindustan Times
53. Supriya Varma, Jawaharlal Nehru University
54. Susie Tharu, Author
55. Tejaswini Niranjana, Lingnan University, Hongkong & TISS
56. Thahir Jamal K.M., Manipal University
57. Udaya Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
58. Uma Bhrugubanda, English and Foreign Languages University
59. Vasudha Nagaraj, Advocate
60. Vasvi Oza, NGMA Bengaluru
61. Vikas Bajpai, Jawaharlal Nehru University
62. Vivan Sundaram, Artist