India's Kashmir move unacceptable, says US Senator Bernie Sanders

WASHINTON - US Senator Bernie Sanders said on Sunday that India's move to annex occupied Kashmir was "unacceptable", calling on the BJP government to lift the curfew in the disputed valley.

Sanders, who is a Democratic presidential hopeful for the US Elections 2020, said he is 'deeply concerned about the situation in Kashmir where the Indian government has revoked Kashmiri autonomy, cracked down on dissent and instituted a communications blackout'.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders slams India on Kashmir lockdown and stated that India's action in Kashmir is unacceptable.
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"The crackdown in the name of security is also denying the Kashmiri people access to medical care. Even many respected doctors in India have acknowledged that the Indian government-imposed restrictions on travel are threatening the life-saving care that patients need," he said while addressing the 56th Convention of Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

"The communications blockade must be lifted immediately and the United States government must speak out boldly in support of international humanitarian law and in support of a UN-backed peaceful resolution that respects the will of the Kashmiri people," the senator stated.

Prime Minister Imran Khan also addressed the audience via video link and said the current Indian regime is a follower of RSS, a hatred and supremacist ideology.

Prime Minister Khan said The the West will have to understand the philosophy of RSS in order to think clearly of this problem. The same philosophy led to the carnage of Muslims in the Indian state of Gujarat earlier, the prime minister opined.

The remarks came weeks after India revoked the special status granted to Kashmir by scrapping Article 370 of the constitution.

A few days ago, Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar had also urged Indian authorities in occupied Kashmir to respect human rights and to de-escalate the rapidly deteriorating situation in the serene valley.