A couple of days ago I noticed that anyone on Twitter calling attention to the terrifying power grab and concomitant communications blackout in Jammu and Kashmir was being attacked and vilified in a weirdly familiar way and this is continuing into the fourth day of the clampdown. Al-Jazeera reports that more than 560 academics, activists and business leaders have been arrested.
The Modi government, having summarily put an end to the long-held special sovereignty of this majority Muslim region, has also done its level best to make sure nobody hears how their new subjects feel about it.
Our priority is the socio-economic development of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. It is vital these beautiful regions become centres of growth and the skills of the local youngsters are utilised effectively. There are ample opportunities in sports, tourism and culture.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2019
Tourism?! They literally threw out all the tourists (citing a vague ‘security alert’ according to the goverment) before the power grab commenced. Then the internet and telephone systems, even landlines, were shut off for more than seven million people, who are still under curfew. No markets or restaurants or businesses open, and still no telephones.
The few stories from Kashmir that have emerged so far inspire no confidence whatsoever.
Some valuable accounts of what’s happening are available on Twitter and elsewhere, like one, which is well worth reading.
Yesterday morning, I left Kashmir with an extremely heavy heart. Here is a (very long) thread from a Kashmiri who was just inside the Valley, on curfew and what I saw going on:
— Sanna Wani (@sannareya) August 6, 2019
Even a tiny comment like the one I made on Twitter a couple of days ago in response to the freakish aggression against journalist Rana Ayyub attracted literally hundreds of trolls. A whole lot of Hindu nationalists (if these are real people, that is) are evidently okay with the Modi government’s violent power grab.
I’m not pretending to report on a political situation I understand only very dimly. But I’m on Twitter quite a bit, and as I read these comments I was startled to see how uncannily similar to the MAGA kind these trolls behave and sound. Just like the Gamergate ones, and the Pizzagate ones. US writers quite commonly catch a swarm of them, like a bout of the flu, when they challenge authoritarians not only in the Modi government but also the governments of Hungary, Poland, the government of Donald Trump or the hardline Brexiteers.
Are these pro-authoritarian trolls real people, and if so, how many are real and how many are fake? Are they centralized in some way, organized, and if so, where and how? Why are they so viciously defending the annexation of Kashmir on Twitter?
My question was, again, what are the chances the Modi government will face sanctions from the US and the UK for their power grab? Here’s a few answers:
Nil zero anda.
— 🇮🇳 सुदीप यादव 🇮🇳 (@sudip_ind) August 6, 2019
because it's our internal matter.
& We are not going to tolerate any interference..
There are many more frightening things to look into, like
— Debasis – Modi ka parivaar (@debduttakolkata) August 6, 2019
*godhra Hindu pilgrims burning
*Kashmiri pandit genocide
*Brutal rape and murder of yezidi girls by a section of Muslims
Need more? Better clean your room first before getting frightened of our internal matters.
R u serious? Do u think it will happen ohhhh dumbo
— गिरीश शर्मा (@GirishSharma32) August 5, 2019
Typical attempt by the western media to malign Indian nationalism. What is right is right, what is wrong is wrong. Article 370 had to go. If you do not understand then please don’t comment.
— RV 🇮🇳 (@NkNk086) August 5, 2019
Who will sanction us USA and UK ?tell them to mind there own business and to serve the interests of their own people.if they are thinking anything regarding this it’s our long pending issue we solved it that’s it, who the Fuck US AND UK is?
— Anand Shweta Pandey (Modi ka parivar) (@anandmanikashya) August 6, 2019
We (India) are fine with anything Modi/Shah doing. So plz excuse
— Sahab 🇮🇳 (@sahabsree) August 6, 2019
Britain !! Ha ha ha.. these yellow-skin slaves themselves are a begging lot now & for all future to come. Old limping Eliza queen cant stop Izlamik flag from flying on Shittingham palace.. this will happen in next 10 yrs..
— Yash (@Yash20999) August 6, 2019
As for US, still has a lot to sell to us.. so get lost
