Ishfaq Majid and Varinder Singh 8 September 2019
In 1949, a special provision was added to India’s constitution providing autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The article was allowing the state to have its own constitution, a separate flag, and independence over all matters except foreign affairs, defence, and communications. Another provision later added under Article 370 was 35A that gives special privileges to permanent residents, including state government jobs and the exclusive right to own property in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. On 5th of the august, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced the Centre government’s decisions on abrogating the provisions of Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, PM addressed the bifurcation of the state into a union territory. He stated that the government’s move would bring more opportunities for development in Jammu and Kashmir. He also invited the investors and industry to come and invest in the region, which will bring economic growth and employment opportunity in the region. He added that before abrogation of Article 370, the people of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of various guarantees and schemes that people in other states enjoy. The sanitation worker act and several laws to stop atrocities against Dalits were missing in J&K.
Before the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, the Govt of India sent 38000+ security personals to Valley claiming a possible terror attack might be carried out by militant groups. The common masses in the Valley were in a state of confusion as rumours of scrapping Article 370 & 35A were being shared through most of the Social Media Platforms. Ultimately on August 5, 2019, when the people of the Valley opened their eyes, they were surprised to see the curfew-like situation and the communication blackout in whole Valley. This was the first move by the Government of India to stop sharing of information.
After scraping Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir police in a statement said that 280 law and order incidents took place in the State between August 5-7. Among these 280 incidents, 160 such incidents took place in Srinagar. Around 22 incidents took place in Pulwama and 18 in Baramulla (Indian Express). On August 17, the Valley recorded 24 such incidents, the highest number of incidents in a single day.
The most of newspapers in the Valley are unable to update the e-paper versions on their websites. The newspapers are severely affected by communication and internet blackout. The Reporters working in Kashmir are facing trouble gaining entry to areas surrounded by security forces. The streets in the whole Valley are filled with barriers to restrict the movement of protestors. The students of Kashmir who are pursuing their studies out of the state of Jammu and Kashmir are facing tough times, and many of them are facing a financial shortage. Though the administration in Kashmir provided the people access to the satellite phones but their number is very low. The people who came for making calls to their loved ones were supposed to wait in ques for hours. Though the administration restored the landline in Kashmir after 20 days of suspension but that too proved like a joke as it wasn’t implemented as was told. The majority of the people in the Valley use mobile phones, and the number of landline phones is very much low. The educational institutions in the Valley are closed, which is severely affecting the education of the students. The educational institutions are closed in the Valley since August 5.
Amid a communication shutdown and other restrictions in Kashmir, the security agencies arrested over 500 people, including political leaders and activists, as the administration considers them as a threat to peace and tranquillity in the Kashmir valley. These include Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah, Sajad Gani Lone and Shah Faisal (The Hindu).
On the eve of Eid-Ul-Azha on 12Th August 2019, the Indian security forces maintained tight restrictions across Kashmir valley fearing protests against the revocation of the special status of the region. The Streets and markets were deserted as a result of the security lockdown. However, television vision channel “Gulistan” worked like a messenger for the people of the Valley by telecasting a special program “Apnun k Naam Paigam” where the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir who are currently out of the state of Jammu and Kashmir came up with their video and audio messages for their loved ones living in Kashmir Valley.
A massive protest was witnessed during the day after the announcement of governments move to abrogate Article 370. Several people were protested the government’s decision. It resulted in cut off internet and calling services in the many places of the region. Satya Pal Malik, the governor of Jammu and Kashmir, made an assuring statement to the people of Jammu and Kashmir saying that there will be no threat to their identity and culture. He also justified the imposition due to curfew saying that it was only to secure the lives. Also, he assured the youth of Jammu and Kashmir with the promise of filling 50,000 vacant government jobs in the region.
The decision also had some international influence. It spiked the tension between India and Pakistan. In an interview with The New York Times, the Pakistan Prime Minister Khan warned that if UNO fails to halt India’s decision on Kashmir, the tension will be resulted in “direct military confrontation” between India and Pakistan. Soon after the declaration of the decisions. Pakistan’s Railways Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed made an announcement to stop the Samjhauta Express train services that linked India and Pakistan. Also, Pakistan’s prime minister Imran Khan talked about the issues related to Kashmir with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Khan also anticipated Saudi Arabia and the UAE to play an active role in urging India to take back its topical move on Kashmir. Also, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan foreign minister wrote a letter highlighting the context and consequences of India’s move on Kashmir to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Security Council and all members of the United Nations.
Hamid Karzai, former Afghan President, also showed his contentment with the Indian government’ decisions saying that the Indian government’s decisions to scrap Article 370 will prove promising for the people in Jammu and Kashmir. He also urged Pakistan to stop using extremist violence in the region.
As many Indian political leaders were in favor of the decision, on the other hand, the Congress opposed scraping of the article. The party leaders are of the opinion that scraping of Article 370 has nothing to do with the welfare of the people living in Jammu and Kashmir. P. Chidambaram believed that scrapping of Article 370 is a ‘Cardinal Blunder.’
As the article is scrapped, it becomes an important duty for the administration to restore the communication lines. The administration in Kashmir should at least restore the Incoming calls on the mobile phones as it will help lots of people who are out of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to talk to their families in Kashmir. As promised by Home Minister Amit Shah, the status of statehood should be given as soon as possible. There should also be some provisions for the local people concerning the government jobs and security of land. The political leaders, as well as the ordinary people, should be released immediately.