PoJK bleeds, opposition sleeps: Gaurav exposes selective Human Rights Politics, says those who cry human rights in India are mute on PoJK killings

JAMMU: BJP spokesperson and Convenor, International Affairs , Gaurav Gupta, today launched a scathing attack on opposition leaders and self-proclaimed human rights activists, accusing them of maintaining a deafening silence over the grave human rights violations unfolding in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK).

Reacting to the latest reports of killings, police crackdowns, mass arrests and internet restrictions in PoJK, Gupta said the events have once again exposed the brutal reality of Pakistan's occupation and the hypocrisy of those political forces in India who routinely weaponize the human rights narrative against their own country while remaining silent on atrocities committed by Pakistan.

"Where are the so-called defenders of human rights today? Where are those opposition leaders who never miss an opportunity to malign India before national and international forums? Their silence over the bloodshed in PoJK is not merely hypocrisy—it is a moral collapse," Gupta said.

He noted that widespread unrest has engulfed several parts of PoJK following protests against the controversial reservation of legislative assembly seats and long-standing grievances regarding political rights and governance. Reports indicate that more than 20 people have lost their lives in recent clashes, while authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions, launched arrests and initiated crackdowns against protest leaders. Amnesty International and other observers have also expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in the region.

Gupta said that the Pakistan administration has reportedly banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), registered sedition cases against its leaders, announced cash rewards for their arrest and unleashed a campaign of intimidation against voices demanding democratic rights. Internet blackouts and heavy security deployments have further intensified public anger across the occupied territory.

"The people of PoJK are demanding basic democratic rights, accountability and representation. Instead of dialogue, Pakistan has responded with bullets, arrests and repression. Yet the very political parties and activists who frequently accuse India of human rights violations have chosen complete silence. Their concern for human rights appears to begin and end with their political agenda," he said.

The BJP leader further alleged that for years a section of India's opposition ecosystem has attempted to create a false narrative regarding Jammu and Kashmir while deliberately ignoring the plight of people living under Pakistan's occupation.

"Whenever India takes steps for peace, development, democracy and empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir, these elements question India's intentions. But when innocent civilians are killed, protesters are hunted down, communication networks are shut and democratic voices are crushed in PoJK, they suddenly lose their voice. This selective activism has been thoroughly exposed before the world," Gupta remarked.

Referring to reports emerging from the region, Gupta said allegations of civilian casualties, including women and children, have shocked the conscience of all those who genuinely believe in human rights and democratic values. He asserted that such incidents reveal the true nature of Pakistan's governance model in the occupied territories.

"The truth is that Pakistan has failed politically, administratively and morally in PoJK. The people are protesting because they are denied genuine democratic rights, economic opportunities and political representation. The Pakistani establishment's answer to every demand for justice is repression," he said.

Calling upon the international community, global human rights organizations and democratic institutions to take immediate cognizance of the situation, Gupta urged them to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions in PoJK.

"The world cannot remain silent while fundamental rights are trampled upon. Human rights are universal and cannot be applied selectively. Those who speak loudly on alleged violations elsewhere must also speak when people in PoJK are being silenced through force and fear," he added.

Reaffirming India's consistent stand on Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, Gupta said the latest developments have once again demonstrated that the people living under Pakistan's occupation continue to suffer from systemic neglect, political suppression and denial of basic freedoms.

"The silence of India's opposition on these atrocities speaks louder than any statement. Their selective outrage has been completely exposed. Human rights cannot be a seasonal political tool; they must stand for every victim, regardless of geography or political convenience," Gupta said.