Kashmir is going to change forever. Abdullahs know it and they are officially on the backfoot

In a move to further strengthen the security situation in Kashmir an additional 25000 troops were ordered to move into the state. However, as the security forces and the administration works towards safeguarding Indian national interests in the radical affected regions, several local and regional parties have started their game of fear and intimidation.

National Conference leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah tweeted, “What “on going situation” in Kashmir would require the army AND the Air Force to be put on alert? This isn’t about 35A or delimitation. This sort of alert, if actually issued, would be about something very different.”

Over the past few weeks, several leaders from parties like National Conference and PDP have been trying to churn controversy around the movement of security personal in the valley by claiming that the said movement is a precursor to abrogation of Article 35A. Local and regional parties have always been opposed to abrogation of Article 35A and Article 370, which has been used a major wedge between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of India. Nonetheless, over the past few days, speculations in this regard are on the rise and the fear of losing political relevance has forced these parties to come out in the open and pitch for a compromise within themselves and with the centre.

In an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt senior National Conference leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdulla has indicated towards the same. Barkha had asked about the inherent gender discrimination in Article 35A, saying, “The people who oppose this say that men and women are discriminated because of this article” to which he answers in a way agreeing to the charge he says, “We can think on that in the Kashmir assembly, they (central government) don’t have to interfere in it..the gender bias in this article can be looked in the assembly”.

These comments further raise questions that if NC leader was aware of these discriminatory aspects why had he, when he was in power, not worked towards abrogating this article. When asked if he was open to bringing about changes in the status-quo, Farooq Abdullah said, “We have to be liberal about it”. Finally, he was asked directly if he accepts that the Article 35A is gender-biased and about his willingness to change it. Barkha asked, “So you acknowledge the gender bias in and you are willing to change it?“ Farooq Abdullah answered, “In the assembly.” He further added, “Always modifications can be done”.

In the interview he also justified these discriminatory and divisive provisions by giving flimsy reasons like “that people are very poor in Kashmir, they will sell their land easily and then will have to live in the mountains..that is why we have stopped it”

Recently several leaders of NC had also met the prime minister to streamline the tensions around the issue.

These regional parties have also called to be united to oppose abrogation of these discriminatory provisions which they are calling ‘prevailing situation’. Omar Abdullah tweeted yesterday, “Having received a number of requests especially from @MehboobaMufti Sahiba & as a follow up to today’s meeting with @PMOIndia,  @JKNC_ President Dr Farooq Abdullah Sb will be reaching out to political leaders of the state to meet on Sunday to discuss the prevailing situation.”

While the nation moves ahead to amalgamate the Kashmiri society with the mainstream Indian society, leaders like Abdullahs and Muftis have kept using these provisions as a blackmail tool to keep their politics running. Nonetheless, the perpetual neglect of Kashmiri people by these same leaders surely calls for abrogation of these discriminatory and divisive provisions which are ultimately used against Kashmiri interests.

However, Farooq Abdullah has forgotten that Article 35A was brought in with a Presidential order and not through the legislative process in J&K assembly. Abdullahs have always treated J&K as their private property and realizing that Modi government has changed the dynamics of the issue and tilted the scales in favour of Indian national interests, them and the Muftis and finding their political existence at threat, hence the change of stance form “No Meddle With Article 35A” to “always modifications can be done”.