Chicago – November 17, 2024
Indian students on Friday protested outside the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom over a debate titled ‘this house believes in the independent state of Kashmir.’
The debate, hosted by the Oxford Union, Oxford University’s debating society, contested the political status of Kashmir, a region historically disputed by India and Pakistan.
The protest was held against the Oxford Union’s selection of panelists. The panel for the motion included Dr. Muzzamil Ayyub Thakur, a Kashmiri leading the Justice Foundation and the Kashmir Freedom Movement, who opposed Indian control of Kashmir, Professor Zafar Khan, chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Diplomatic Bureau.
Speakers against the motion were Prem Shankar Jha, former media advisor to former Prime Minister V P Jha with experience at the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Hindustan Times, Yusuf Kundgol and Siddhant Nagrath.
The Oxford Union, in an Instagram post, wrote, “The Kashmir question, a parting gift of British colonial rule, has troubled the subcontinent since 1947 resulting in multiple wars. The continued push for Kashmiri independence has sustained a long-standing struggle, rooted in the region’s quest for self-determination and autonomy. This has led to persistent unrest, human rights concerns, and renewed demand for autonomy among the Kashmiris. While nuclear-armed neighbours vie for control and geopolitical influence, the desire for peace among the population remains strong. Could an independent Kashmir be the answer to this enduring crisis?”
