Ex-DGP RR Swain Alleges Kashmir Bar Pushed Anti-India Agenda for Decades
Jammu, April 14: In a seminar on national security held in New Delhi, former Director General of Police (DGP) of Jammu and Kashmir, RR Swain, made serious allegations against the Kashmir Bar Association, accusing it of promoting an anti-India agenda for nearly three decades.
Swain claimed that for almost 28 years, the preamble of the Kashmir Bar Association openly referred to Kashmir as a “disputed territory” and even advocated for the internationalization of the issue. “This preamble was written and endorsed by individuals who had taken an oath under the Constitution of India—yet in courtrooms, they openly challenged its authority,” Swain said, calling such contradictions “unacceptable.”
He emphasized the need to establish firm boundaries in the legal and political discourse of the region. “There must be red lines that cannot be crossed,” he added.
In a separate media interaction, Swain alleged that a group of around 30 lawyers from the erstwhile Kashmir High Court Bar Association controlled nearly 70–80% of the legal business in the Valley. He claimed these lawyers not only obstructed government policies but also “aided enemies through legal means.”
“If you wanted to win a case in the High Court, these 30 lawyers were practically gatekeepers. Forget how they helped the enemy—forget how they frustrated every government move,” Swain stated, labeling it the “sad reality of separatist politics” in Jammu and Kashmir. He warned that those advancing anti-India narratives “will not be spared.”
Swain also shed light on Pakistan’s long-term strategy in the region, describing it as a “calculated, low-intensity conflict” designed to destabilize India’s position in Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, Islamabad has shifted away from full-scale warfare and now aims to incrementally raise the cost of India’s presence in the region by fueling unrest and supporting a global narrative that portrays India as an impediment to progress in the Union Territory.
Commenting on the situation post-abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Swain addressed the criticism that peace in the region is “imposed.” He rejected these claims, asserting that “anyone who visits the Valley today can see the difference. These arguments simply don’t hold.”
He urged both the public and political leadership to maintain unity in the face of challenges and to avoid internal criticism during sensitive times. “Rather than turning inward and questioning our own government, we must stay focused and committed to the national line,” he said.
Swain concluded his remarks by calling for a unified national stance on matters of internal security and Jammu and Kashmir. “India’s democracy is a sacred value. On national security, we must speak with one voice. Mixed messaging only strengthens those working against us,” he cautioned.
