Srinagar, Oct 25: Senior Kashmiri Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul declined an invitation to participate in the Oxford Union’s annual debate on Kashmir.
He said that he withdrew after learning that the event would include participants he describes as “India baiters” and others allegedly involved in terror financing in Kashmir.
Kaul, who belongs to Srinagar, said that while he initially hoped to present his views openly, debating in such a setting, he felt, would undermine freedom and fairness, particularly given participants’ connections to Pakistan’s “Deep State.”
Kaul said he initially hoped to share his perspective on Kashmir’s 5,000-year-old cultural heritage. However, he felt the event did not honor democracy or true debate, particularly given the presence of those he holds responsible for past violence and the “ethnic cleansing” of Kashmiri Pandits, making open dialogue impossible.
Oxford Union Debate is likely to take place on November 14 in United Kingdom.
