Kashmir Erupts: 7 Alarming Truths Mehdi Reveals Linking India’s Israel Shift to Rising Islamophobia

Kashmir MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi asserts India’s shift toward supporting Israel stems directly from the ruling BJP’s domestic “anti-Muslim ideology” and Islamophobia, not geopolitical strategy. He condemns the parallel erosion of Kashmir’s autonomy since 2019, accusing the BJP of deliberately narrowing political discourse from demanding constitutional rights to merely seeking statehood. Mehdi openly challenges his own National Conference party when it aligns with this agenda, stressing they were elected to restore Kashmir’s pre-2019 guarantees.

He links India’s abandonment of its traditional pro-Palestine stance to the BJP’s broader assault on secularism, calling the current trajectory a slide toward “a kind of Hindu Pakistan.”

Rejecting fatalism, Mehdi outlines a practical fightback: building alliances with other Indian states demanding stronger federal rights, formally rejecting the 2019 constitutional changes, and petitioning for the release of thousands of Kashmiris jailed without trial. His struggle positions Kashmir not as an isolated case, but as the frontline in a battle for India’s secular and democratic soul.

Kashmir Erupts: 7 Alarming Truths Mehdi Reveals Linking India’s Israel Shift to Rising Islamophobia

The transformation of India’s traditionally pro-Palestine foreign policy into tacit support for Israel isn’t just a geopolitical realignment, argues Kashmiri MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi. In a pointed critique, the National Conference leader contends it’s symptomatic of the ruling BJP’s “anti-Muslim” ideology and part of a broader assault on India’s secular foundations – an assault keenly felt in his own region of Jammu and Kashmir. 

The Autonomy Erosion & The Silence: 

Mehdi, one of the few MPs vocally challenging the post-2019 reality in Kashmir, decries the systematic dismantling of the region’s special status. He observes a deliberate narrowing of political discourse: 

• From Autonomy to Statehood: “The BJP wants to shape the political discourse… away from autonomy and our constitutional guarantees, towards merely demanding statehood,” Mehdi states. He openly challenges his own party, the National Conference (NC), when it follows this line, reminding them they were elected to uphold the pre-2019 political agenda centered on those lost guarantees under Article 370. 

• A Fight Against “Hindu Pakistan”: Mehdi starkly contrasts the India Kashmir acceded to – one based on secularism and pluralism – with what he perceives today: “a kind of Hindu Pakistan.” This ideological shift, he argues, necessitates reaching beyond Kashmir’s borders. “We cannot isolate ourselves. Whatever happens to Muslims across India affects us… and other minorities and persecuted communities.” 

The Federal Fightback: A Glimmer of Hope? 

Rejecting fatalism, Mehdi outlines a pragmatic, albeit challenging, strategy to reclaim Kashmir’s rights, anchored in a pan-Indian struggle: 

• Institutional Rejection: The first step is for the elected assembly of Jammu & Kashmir to formally reject the decisions of August 5, 2019 (the revocation of Article 370). He expected his own NC to champion this immediately upon election. 

• Building a Federal Alliance: Mehdi sees hope in rising demands for state autonomy elsewhere in India. He cites recent statements by leaders like M.K. Stalin (DMK, Tamil Nadu) and Mamata Banerjee (TMC, West Bengal) advocating for stronger federal rights. “Our struggle is not isolated… In a post-Modi India, I see genuine forces pushing to restructure the federal arrangement.” He actively courts allies in the INDIA bloc (TMC, SP, Congress, DMK), finding common ground on protecting state powers. 

• The Long Game: The roadmap involves persistent advocacy: the J&K Chief Minister engaging directly with other states, explaining Kashmir’s position, inviting MPs to witness the situation, and building parliamentary momentum. “If we can explain our demand for autonomy in a language that resonates with other states’ struggles, we might build a common cause… [leading to] a Parliament that supports stronger federalism.” 

Israel, Palestine & The “Anti-Muslim” Lens: 

Mehdi directly attributes India’s foreign policy shift on Israel-Palestine to the BJP’s domestic ideology: 

• Breaking Tradition: He notes the lack of coordinated opposition response partly due to absent parliamentary sessions but emphasizes that most opposition parties individually condemned Israeli aggression, aligning with India’s historical stance. 

• Ideological Alignment: “The Modi regime and the RSS have redrawn India’s position to suit right-wing ideology. They’ll side with any power that is anti-Muslim – and that’s what’s happening with Palestine.” He views India’s abstention on Gaza ceasefire votes and warming ties with Israel as extensions of domestic Islamophobia. 

Confronting History & Hypocrisy: 

Addressing critics who point to Nehru’s 1951 statement predicting Kashmir’s autonomy erosion, Mehdi highlights a crucial omission: “Nehru said, ‘But the demand for this erosion should come from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.'” This requirement for popular consent, enshrined in Article 370 itself, was ignored in 2019. While past erosions occurred through compromised institutions, Mehdi stresses the current method: “brute force.” 

Action on the Ground: Prisoners & Dialogue 

Beyond rhetoric, Mehdi highlights concrete struggles: 

• Thousands Detained: He details efforts to secure the release of thousands of Kashmiris jailed, often without trial, since 2019 – meeting Home Minister Amit Shah (with no substantive reply) and preparing a Supreme Court petition. 

• Dialogue with Pakistan: Defying the current mainstream reluctance, Mehdi advocates consistent dialogue: “If the governments can listen to Trump and agree to talk, then they should also listen to the people of Jammu and Kashmir – because it’s our lives at stake.” 

The Stakes: More Than Just Kashmir 

Mehdi’s stance represents a critical voice within India’s system, fighting on two fronts: against the BJP’s Hindutva agenda and against the complacency or compromise within his own political sphere. His argument transcends Kashmir, framing its struggle as the vanguard of a larger battle for India’s secular, federal, and democratic soul.

By linking foreign policy to domestic prejudice and anchoring Kashmir’s fight within a burgeoning national demand for state autonomy, Mehdi offers a provocative, deeply human perspective on the costs of ideological shifts – costs measured in silenced voices, broken promises, and thousands languishing in prisons. His fight is a stark reminder that international alignments often reflect internal fractures, and that the quest for justice, whether in Gaza or Srinagar, remains intertwined.