Raqif Makhdoomi
Article 370 – an unfortunate history now. The special status of state the State Of J&K ceased to exist and the status was reduced to a UT on August 05, 2019. It has been 200 days of newly crafted 2 union territories Union Territory of J&K and Ladakh. August 5th of 2019 was a complete shuffle in the administrative setup of jammu and Kashmir when Home Minster of India presented the bill to scrap the special status of jammu and Kashmir and divide it into 2 union territories i,e jammu and Kashmir a separate UT and ladhk a separate. The only difference between the two is J&k will have a legislative assembly while as ladkh will not have any legislative assembly. The bringing to these 200 days had begun even before Narandar Modi had officially taken over as Prime Minister of India . BJP who finds its roots form jan sangh had nullifying Article 370 from the constitution since it’s birth. The slogan of “Aak Dash Aak Savidan” and Aak Dash doo savidan nahi challanga”. Finds it’s roots from the Vishuv hindu pareshed that had fought elections in 1991 when Sheikh Abdullah’s party had a tamping victory. Vishvu Hindu Pareshad was against Article 370 that granted special status to jammu and Kashmir since it was discussed. When ever NDA used to talk about nullifying Article 370 people of Kashmir took it as a tactic to attract voters ignoring all the possibilities of it actually being scrapped. Well time and again Modi led NDA 1st made claims of scrapping it but didn’t do it during it’s whole course from 2014-19 . While as the parliamentary elections were up and the politics had steamed up. The air around 370 grew up further more. While as bjp in it’s manifesto made it’s stand clear on nullifying 370 on the other hand Congress, National Conference and People’s Democratic Party made their stand clear on protecting it. Well now either they win or bjp alone in sticking to their manifesto. But people of Kashmir didn’t pay attention to what bjp manifesto had to say about 370 because they took it as election tactic nothing else. As elections resulted were declared it marked Modi 2.0 with a tamping majority in Lok shabha. 270 out 500 a clear majority. But even after the win no one from the common masses in Kashmir got worried about the bjp sticking to it’s manifesto. But as time inched closer things started to get clear . Amaranth yatara was suspended first, then tourists were asked to leave as soon as possible. While administration was asked to comment on the orders they termed the orders in the wake of security reasons. Well never before had such thing happened before. Well things went on extra forces were deployed one on one orders were issued. Some were termed fake and some miscommunication in all this came 4th of August 2019 when Governor changed its statement saying ” Everything is fine till today I don’t know about tomorrow ” and this rang the bell, people were caught in fear. They shifted to store things of living which they will require and then came night of 4th of August when internet was scrapped and mainstream politicians detained and when clock struck about 2:00 Am of August 5th when communications were full scrapped. When people woke up they woke up to full sealed Kashmir with no connectivity and even news channels shut. People were glued to television sets with whatever news channel available watching helplessly their Special status being scrapped. While the speaker asked Home Minster to present the bill he stood up with all the pride to present the bill to scrap the special status of jammu and Kashmir. While the bill was instructed the house turned into uproar and congress the leader of opposition used full might tired to stand against the bill but the party had divided on it internally. Farooq Abdullah the lok shabha member from Srinagar constituency was denied and the other two MPs from Srinagar were newbies and were unable to make out what to do and what to say. They instead of speaking thought about escaping from being detained. On the other hand the two Raj shahba members of People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) kept the fire brand image of party up and tore apart the copy of constitution for which they were suspended from attending the proceedings of the house. While as the discussion went on Amit shah instead of speaking about legalities on which his goodself introduced the bill kept accusing congress of doing so and so on. No doubt he even made some factual comments but not as strong of them so concrete. Well enjoying the tamping majority in lok shahba everything done by opposition was useless. The bill got passed in lok shabha and also in Raj Shahha were NDA doesn’t enjoy majority. Non allies of NDA also supported it on 370 to gain political mileage on it . The bill got signed by Hon’ble President and it becomes law. J&K Reorganisation Act 2019. The people celebrated and people of Jammu and Kashmir watched helplessly. The opposition tried to corner BJP on the issue of restrictions in jk internet clapdown and arrests of mainstream politicians but it didn’t paid off as Modi and Shah did their magic and opposition finally had to take aback. While the opposition tried to made a visit which was led by congress MP Rahul Ghandi but they were not allowed to visit and were sent back from Srinagar airport. The Governor SP mailk when asked about releasing politicians said “ The longer the will stay in jail the more votes they will gain”. The Home Depot of j&k kept on holding back to back press conferences to update about the situation of Kashmir. But the words spoken and the situation on ground were both different. It Hardly mattered no one was there to do the fact check. Yashwant shina once Minster of Finance in AB vajipaiee led NDA now a well known critic of the Modi led NDA asked about his summary of visit Kashmir he termed the silence as diplomatic rather than the sign of acceptance. Well Soon after the scrapping elections of States came up they tried to make full use of 370 but the common masses didn’t response it well.. In Haryana they had a narrow escape and in Maharashtra the Shiv sena ditched them at last movement and from that point to now bjp is loosing one on one state and Delhi elections is speaking much more. While the Kashmir that saw a massive change on 5th of August completes it’s 200 days. The political process has been shut till than. But slowly it seems to be picking up as Altaf Bukhari led third front is coming up with it’s party named “ Apni party” Jammu and Kashmir seems to see a slow breeze of political process picking up. As majority of 2nd ring leaders of Major two parties NC and PDP are out they have started to reconnect to their party workers and both parties held meetings at their respective party headquarters for the first time after abrogation of 370 . But both the parties seemed to glued to their stand of not indulging in any political activities till their party presidents aren’t out. Well Kashmir got a huge international attention during all this time that it lacked since ages. Many countries criticised India for it did in Jammu and Kashmir. But even after facing such huge criticism from all around the world they didn’t step back from justifying from what it did. The Spokesperson of EAM spoke same words to every statement made by ant country and those are “Kashmir is an internal issue of India and India won’t let any third party to interfere in it”. The UK and US went on passing resolutions in their respective parliaments. Never has Kashmir been taken this seriously before. The US congress criticised India for everything they did in Kashmir but India kept and is still keeping itself stand still on her actions in regards to Kashmir. Well now as many things have happened and are happening in regards to Kashmir the most important thing will be to see how will the political atmosphere will be recreated in Kashmir will Apni party be able to motivate apna loog or GOI will have to strive harder.
(Author is a human rights defender. Views are his own, [email protected])