Indian students protest outside Oxford Union over debate on Kashmir

Indian students gathered in protest outside the Oxford Union in the UK on Thursday, expressing their disapproval of a debate centered on Kashmiri independence. The debate, organized by the Oxford Union, featured panelists both for and against the motion, sparking controversy over the selection of speakers and the sensitive nature of the topic.

Protest outside Oxford Union. (Screenshot) NEW DELHI: Indian students on Thursday protested outside the Oxford Union in the United Kingdom over a debate titled 'this house believes in the independent state of Kashmir.' The debate, hosted by the Oxford Union, Oxford University's debating society, contested the political status of Kashmir, a region historically disputed by India and Pakistan.

The protest was held against the Oxford Union's selection of panelists. The panel for the motion included Dr. Muzzamil Ayyub Thakur, a Kashmiri leading the Justice Foundation and the Kashmir Freedom Movement, who opposed Indian control of Kashmir, Professor Zafar Khan, chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Diplomatic Bureau.

Speakers against the motion were Prem Shankar Jha, former media advisor to former Prime Minister V P Jha with experience at the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Hindustan Times, Yusuf Kundgol and Siddhant Nagrath. The Oxford Union, in an Instagram post, wrote, "The Kashmir question, a parting gift of British colonial rule, has troubled the subcontinent since 1947 resulting in multiple wars. The continued push for Kashmiri independence has sustained a long-standing struggle, rooted in the region’s quest for self-determination and autonomy.

This has led to persistent unrest, human rights concerns, and renewed demand for autonomy among the Kashmiris. While nuclear-armed neighbours vie for control and geopolitical influence, the desire for peace among the population remains strong. Could an independent Kashmir be the answer to this enduring crisis?" INSIGHT UK, a British Hindu group, formally objected to the debate.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), they wrote, “We have sent a formal letter to Oxford Union expressing deep concerns over their decision to host the debate. The invitation of speakers with alleged links to terrorism is particularly alarming and raises serious questions about the integrity of this debate.”.