The Narendra Modi government on Monday, in a historic move revoked the special status given to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh; and concluded the process of complete amalgamation of the said regions with India which had started with the signing of Instrument of Accession between then princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and Dominion of India nearly 72 years ago in October of 1947.
The announcement of the revocation was made by Union Minister Amit Shah in both the houses of parliament, what followed were nationwide celebrations nonetheless some political parties were not happy with developments and had registered their opposition to this critical change of status-quo. Political parties opposing this move included Congress, TMC, DMK, NCP, PDP, NC, JD(U) and the RJD, while surprisingly staunch opponents of the current ruling dispensation AAP and BSP came out and supported this progressive move.
Earlier in the run-up to the general elections, former Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti had made provocative statements in defence of the discriminatory Article 35A and said, “Don’t fiddle with Article 35A, else you will see what you haven’t seen since 1947. If it’s attacked then I don’t know which flag people of Jammu and Kashmir will be forced to pick up instead of the tricolour.”
Now dismantling such vacuous ideas, news reports have indicated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah might be visiting the famous Lal Chowk in Srinagar and unfurl the tricolour and take part in Independence Day celebrations in the area. Tricolour will also be unfurled in all the village panchayats in the state. This move if materialized will surely have a huge impact on the politics in the region however there is no official communication regarding the same from the administration.
Along with taking part in the celebrations, Union Home Minister is also poised to access the security situation in the state and chair meeting with various officials of different security agencies in the state. Amit Shah is also expected to address the public on this occasion however official communication from the Government or the BJP is still awaited.
These reports surely bring back the memories of 1992 when on the peak of militancy in the region, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi along with current PM Narendra Modi and several other leaders had unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk, Srinagar on the Republic Day that year.
From massive troop buildup in the state to preventive detention of susceptible disrupters, the current administration has again given an indication of its effective and diligent planning and now this move of unfurling the tricolour at Lal Chowk is sure to have far-reaching impact in reducing the artificially instilled alienation in the Kashmiri society. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen how fast the situation evolves to a position of stability and prosperity which the society of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh has been kept away for long.
