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.
Kashmir remains on lockdown. No communication, no movement, no clarity, no dignity. 48 hours so far.
— Azad Essa (@azadessa) August 7, 2019
Meanwhile #KashmirIntegrated is trending. They celebrating integration with an entirely gagged people.
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.
— 🇮🇳 SUDIP YADAV 🇮🇳 (@sudip_ind) August 6, 2019
because it's our internal matter.
& We are not going to tolerate any interference..
They will loose business. India survived sanctions of 1998 really well when India was not that powerful but it's different ball game all together after 20 years. No country can afford to spoil its ties with India goin into the next decade.
— Garv (@imgarvmalik) August 5, 2019
There are many more frightening things to look into, like
— Debasis (@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.
— OrgChem (@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 Pandey (@anandmanikashya) August 6, 2019
We (India) are fine with anything Modi/Shah doing. So plz excuse
— Sahab (@sahabsree) August 6, 2019
KASHMIRI PANDITS …
— Chand (@Chand48872437) August 6, 2019
WE WILL NOW WORK AS ISRAEL WORKS…
A STICK ON THE BACK
Are we still in last century? Kick in western butts, ignore and humiliate them and grow like China. That India believes now?
— Praveen Kaushal (@MantoMast) 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
Each comment or response costs a tiny ETH fee of 0.0002 (about 5¢ in Ethereum cryptocurrency), payable from your Metamask.io wallet (the wallet is free, and takes just a moment to add to your browser). This system helps protect Popula conversations from trolls, fakers, Cambridges Analytica and other malign influences.
If you haven’t got any ETH yet and you’re a Popula subscriber, please write to hey@popula.com with your subscriber email address and MetaMask wallet address, and we’ll send you a little bit to get started! It’s pretty easy and a lot of fun to use, Yay.
If you’d like to learn more about cryptocurrency, Ethereum, and how Popula is using these new technologies to help protect speech rights and the free press, please visit our FAQ page.
We’re having trouble checking your subscriber status. Try refreshing the page.
Welcome! To leave a comment, you’ll need to log in, and also have your MetaMask wallet ready with some ETH cryptocurrency available.
It’s easy! Just visit metamask.io to install an in-browser MetaMask wallet. If you’re a new subscriber, write to hey@popula.com for $2 in free ETH crypto!
Thank you for being a Popula subscriber! As a subscriber, you may leave comments, but you have to be logged in as commenter here first. This is an additional login—the login for your commenting privileges—and you’ll stay logged in after you log in the first time.
We’ve sent an email to your registered address at … with your commenting details. Please follow the directions in the email to open your commenting privileges and then come back here to leave your first comment!
Thanks for registering! Please log in and you can get started commenting.
You need to connect to the Main Ethereum Network before you can leave a comment. Click on your MetaMask icon so the window pops up, then select ‘Main Ethereum Network’ from the network-chooser dropdown at the top.
You’re logged in and ready to leave comments! All you need is a MetaMask wallet and a little ETH cryptocurrency, just like with our microtipping system.
If you know what MetaMask is and have it installed, activate MetaMask and refresh:
Each comment costs 5¢ in Ethereum cryptocurrency to post! Just write your comment and click the green button. Thank you, Popula subscriber, for joining us in the new world of cryptoeconomics! Please don’t forget to set your wallet address in order to receive tips on your comments.
Alas! commenting is not yet available on your mobile device. Each comment costs a little ETH cryptocurrency to post, and for now that requires a regular computer.
So please go to your laptop, install the MetaMask browser plugin, and hold forth!