Kaun Kehta Hain

ghar ke andar bhi main giraft

ghar ke chaukhat par bhi main

kaun kehta hain Kashmir aakhir hua azaad

yeh andhera hua hain aur bhi gehra aaj

itni tez hain roshni, ke ban gaye hain andhey hum

gehebaan main dhokebaaz sholon ke cheetain hain jaley

kaun kehta hain Kashmir aakhir hua azaad

yeh andhera hua hain aur bhi gehra aaj

zubaan pe hain taaley aur bazaar taaliyon ki goonj

woh cheekon ke sanaatey fhir rahe darbadar masoom

kaun kehta hain Kashmir aakhir hua azaad

yeh andhera hua hain aur bhi gehra aaj

© Sandhya Suri

On 5th August 2019, Kashmir was virtually cut off from the outside world with phone and internet links shut down and a curfew was enforced. TThe central government revoked a constitutional provision that guaranteed special rights to the Muslim-majority state. Mobile and internet services in Kashmir were shut down, and the blackout included landlines and cable television networks. Additional forces were deployed in towns and cities, barbed wire was laid on the streets to prevent protests during the lockdown.