Senior journalist and executive editor of the TV9 Network Aditya Raj Kaul has withdrawn his acceptance to take part in a debate organised by the Oxford Union Society on the ground that invitations had been extended to known Indian baiters and those with a track record of financing terror in Kashmir.
Kaul had been invited for a debate by the Oxford Union on the subject, ‘This house believes in an independent state of Kashmir.’
“Your distinguished career in journalism and your in-depth reporting on Kashmir have been both informative and inspiring. Your extensive on-ground experience and nuanced analysis of the region’s socio-political dynamics will provide our audience with a deeper understanding of the complex realities of Kashmir. It would be an honour to have you with us, sharing your expertise and contributing to this crucial conversation,’ the invitation by Oxford Union to Kaul read.
In a strongly worded response, Aditya Raj Kaul said that despite the fact that he had serious reservations for the debate which he believed was partisan and deeply motivated by biases of organisers he had decided to take part in it with an open mind and express himself as a Kashmiri.
Oxford Union invited me to their prestigious annual debate to argue on #Kashmir. I’ve withdrawn my acceptance in light of the institution inviting India baiters and people responsible for terror financing in Jammu & Kashmir, India. This is my letter to the @OxfordUnion President. pic.twitter.com/tHZ6li1xjf
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) October 24, 2024
However I am appalled to learn that invitations have been extended to known India baiters and people with dubious track records of financing terror in Kashmir. Needless to say, that it would be a travesty of freedom and fairness to have a debate or even an interaction with people who work at the behest of the so-called establishment of the Pakistan deep state, Kaul further added.
He also said that he found it incredulous that an institution which has such a glorious reputation and is seen as a flag bearer of democratic credentials would do itself incalculable harm by inviting people like Muzzammil Ayub Thakur to such an august forum. ‘Much as I would have wanted to take part in the debate which would be fair and open within the parameters of democratic diligence, it seems the referee represents a certain side,’ he also said.
Kaul also said that the states of India and Pakistan as carved out by the British may be new, but the Indian nation has existed over 5,000 years and Kashmir has been its cultural, philosophical and polemic fountainhead. As a Kashmir exiled at birth, who would have yearned for peace, it would have been a great opportunity for me to express my views, but I am afraid that the dice seems already loaded. A great institution or a at least a section of it seems to have been hijacked by the very forces who are inimical to its foundational values of democracy and debate,’ he added.
It may be recalled that in September this year, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri said that he had declined an invitation by the Oxford Union to debate on Kashmir. He said that he felt offended to get the invitation, adding that he did not want to be part of public debates and instead use his stories to make his point.
“The House Believes in an independent state of Kashmir”. Sharing his refusal letter, he wrote, “I found the theme offensive, anti-India, and anti-Kashmir. On principle, I have declined the offer,” the maker of the film The Kashmir Files wrote on Twitter.
Who is Muzammil Ayub Thakur
Thakur lives in the United Kingdom and is a known peddler of disinformation on J&K. He runs two Islamist organisations, – ‘The Justice Foundation’ and ‘World Kashmir Freedom Movement’.
He had been beaten up by three Indians on August 9 following a propaganda event. “On 9th of August 2024, Muzzammil Ayyub Thakur was assaulted after a lecture on Kashmir & resistance in London. He was attacked by three Indians who verbally berated him before launching a physical attack. One of the culprits recorded the events taking place,” he had said in a statement.
Muzzammil is the son of London based ISI agent Ayyub Thakur who had actively channeled funds for the ISI was also involved in lobbying for J&K. In an interview, in 2015 given to the Only Kashmir YouTube channel, Muzzammil had acknowledged that his father had backed the terrorists in Kashmir. He also spoke about how his father had funded terrorism in the region.
Muzzzammil too like his father has endorsed terrorists after they were gunned down by the security forces of Bharat. “Final words of smiling Kashmiri shaheeds (martyrs)…A lesson for all of us,’ he had said in a tweet in 2012 November.
In 2022, Muzzammil was booked by the J&K police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for carrying out anti-national activities.
“This apart, a proper complaint was lodged by Advocate Syed Zeeshan before Srinagar Police against Muzamil Ayyub Thakur and others. In the complaint, it is alleged by him that Muzammil Ayyub at the behest of ISI and ISPR is threatening, harassing, carrying out criminal intimidation, besides being involved in cyber-crimes against the complainant,” a police spokesperson had said.
“Post-August 5, 2019, when India illegally annexed occupied Kashmir, turning it from a de facto occupation to a de jure occupation, bifurcating the state and then turning it into a union territory, one of the lies was to bring development to Kashmir, make it prosper. The reality is that India has turned Kashmir into another East India Trading Company, making it open season for Indian businesses and so-called investors to loot, and in the process, destroy even ecology on the way,” Muzzammil had said in a rant post the abrogation of Article 370.
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