There is so much hullabaloo about the article 370 removal on TVs, Newspapers and all kinds of social media in the past almost 10 ten days.
Having full majority on its side, the BJP has implemented a key item in the core agenda of its parent organisation, RSS-the abrogation of Article 370. The Muslim majority state’s accession to India was premised on its special status. Righting historical wrongs may sometimes be a desirable political objective but may not necessarily be prudent. In many cases, if settled issues are meddled with, to put it colloquially if sleeping dogs are disturbed from slumber, consequences can also be serious. In the instant case, the abrogation of Article 370 is required, and "no political party will have any objection” for its removal. But the problem is that a section of people including people of J&K feel that the decision being unilateral to downgrade it to UT. While procedure envisaged in the constitution has been given a go by, which they feel anathema to federalism. This abrogation move will give a lot of benefits, to the people of J&K is all that it is felt. There are many arguments, some feel, the government's unilateral move done without consulting the stakeholders in the state may weaken, if not break, the bond between Kashmir and rest of India and also alter the state’s present demographic profile. For a long now there has been a concerted effort by both sides of the argument regarding Article 370. While on the one hand leaders such as former CMs of J&K believe that the article 370, is only a constitutional link between state and rest of India, there are many from across the spectrum, who insist that Article 370, has prevented the state from True Type of becoming an integral part of India. Some even say, that in abrogating Article 370 of the constitution, is reminiscent of the “precipitous" Demonetisation “exercise that marked the downturn of the economy, which still shows no sign of looking up. In the TV discussion, one gentleman said, that the sudden Bifurcation into 2UTs leaving behind a union of two very dissimilar regions one mostly Muslim, and other mostly Hindu, may end up making a bad situation, worse. Of course, these are all only presumptions or assumptions, having no scientific basis.
It’s ironical that to enable the full implementation of "democracy " the government had to put its two former CMs, under arrest, impose Sec144 Crpc, prohibiting gathering of more persons, mobilise unprecedented 45,000 armed personnel, especially in the valley, and block internet, mobile phones, and even landline, impose curfews, to keep the people of the state in the dark about the amendments that would change their lives. I don’t know whether it’s unusual or not, but this was what was the way to enable “fully implemented democracy" people have to say whether these actions are as per law, still if people say, this is the only best solution, in democracy, I have no objection, and I leave it to their wisdom, as we have people who blindly take sides, and no dispassionate view.
A radical constitutional amendment without any consultation with stakeholders, despite Governor assuring on record that no major constitutional change was on cards, an utter disregard for the people of the state,and political leaders who represent them, bifurcating the state and reducing its powers is nothing but an assault on federal structure envisaged in our constitution. Today, its J&K, tomorrow, it could be any state, like West Bengal, etc. The procedure to be followed is to first to dissolve the elected Assembly, put President's rule, to ensure that the powers of the Assembly could be entrusted to parliament, then using its brute majority any legislation could be bulldozed, to pass and any state could be made a UT. Surprisingly a mention was also made about AP&TS bifurcation, but here this only, latest movement by KCR took 12years, where very wide unprecedented consultations took place, all stakeholders involved, all political parties gave in writing agreeing for bifurcation (Except CPM). Its sheer non-sense to compare that bifurcation with this, and it’s not at all unusual.
Now the matter, in any case, will go to SC, and it all depends on the outcome, while the international repercussions are yet to be seen. Pakistan will try to internationalise it, though it’s purely bilateral, it would take immense diplomatic skills on the part of the Indian government to keep the situation under control, and in India’s favour. Even as hard-core ultra-nationalists and,many others in the rest of India may view the timing of the measure as political muscle-flexing in the face of severe reverses facing the economy. I'm afraid, it could also be alleged that the knee-jerk moves like this are propelled by the government’s attempt to induce public amnesia to counter its pathetic failure to handle economic downturns and drastic loss of employment opportunities.
In this situation, there is no winner, but the issue could be resolved only through confidence-building measures for the local populace on the lines of Late Vajpayee’s doctrine “Insaniat, jamhooiyat, and Kashmiriyat”
Having full majority on its side, the BJP has implemented a key item in the core agenda of its parent organisation, RSS-the abrogation of Article 370. The Muslim majority state’s accession to India was premised on its special status. Righting historical wrongs may sometimes be a desirable political objective but may not necessarily be prudent. In many cases, if settled issues are meddled with, to put it colloquially if sleeping dogs are disturbed from slumber, consequences can also be serious. In the instant case, the abrogation of Article 370 is required, and "no political party will have any objection” for its removal. But the problem is that a section of people including people of J&K feel that the decision being unilateral to downgrade it to UT. While procedure envisaged in the constitution has been given a go by, which they feel anathema to federalism. This abrogation move will give a lot of benefits, to the people of J&K is all that it is felt. There are many arguments, some feel, the government's unilateral move done without consulting the stakeholders in the state may weaken, if not break, the bond between Kashmir and rest of India and also alter the state’s present demographic profile. For a long now there has been a concerted effort by both sides of the argument regarding Article 370. While on the one hand leaders such as former CMs of J&K believe that the article 370, is only a constitutional link between state and rest of India, there are many from across the spectrum, who insist that Article 370, has prevented the state from True Type of becoming an integral part of India. Some even say, that in abrogating Article 370 of the constitution, is reminiscent of the “precipitous" Demonetisation “exercise that marked the downturn of the economy, which still shows no sign of looking up. In the TV discussion, one gentleman said, that the sudden Bifurcation into 2UTs leaving behind a union of two very dissimilar regions one mostly Muslim, and other mostly Hindu, may end up making a bad situation, worse. Of course, these are all only presumptions or assumptions, having no scientific basis.
It’s ironical that to enable the full implementation of "democracy " the government had to put its two former CMs, under arrest, impose Sec144 Crpc, prohibiting gathering of more persons, mobilise unprecedented 45,000 armed personnel, especially in the valley, and block internet, mobile phones, and even landline, impose curfews, to keep the people of the state in the dark about the amendments that would change their lives. I don’t know whether it’s unusual or not, but this was what was the way to enable “fully implemented democracy" people have to say whether these actions are as per law, still if people say, this is the only best solution, in democracy, I have no objection, and I leave it to their wisdom, as we have people who blindly take sides, and no dispassionate view.
A radical constitutional amendment without any consultation with stakeholders, despite Governor assuring on record that no major constitutional change was on cards, an utter disregard for the people of the state,and political leaders who represent them, bifurcating the state and reducing its powers is nothing but an assault on federal structure envisaged in our constitution. Today, its J&K, tomorrow, it could be any state, like West Bengal, etc. The procedure to be followed is to first to dissolve the elected Assembly, put President's rule, to ensure that the powers of the Assembly could be entrusted to parliament, then using its brute majority any legislation could be bulldozed, to pass and any state could be made a UT. Surprisingly a mention was also made about AP&TS bifurcation, but here this only, latest movement by KCR took 12years, where very wide unprecedented consultations took place, all stakeholders involved, all political parties gave in writing agreeing for bifurcation (Except CPM). Its sheer non-sense to compare that bifurcation with this, and it’s not at all unusual.
Now the matter, in any case, will go to SC, and it all depends on the outcome, while the international repercussions are yet to be seen. Pakistan will try to internationalise it, though it’s purely bilateral, it would take immense diplomatic skills on the part of the Indian government to keep the situation under control, and in India’s favour. Even as hard-core ultra-nationalists and,many others in the rest of India may view the timing of the measure as political muscle-flexing in the face of severe reverses facing the economy. I'm afraid, it could also be alleged that the knee-jerk moves like this are propelled by the government’s attempt to induce public amnesia to counter its pathetic failure to handle economic downturns and drastic loss of employment opportunities.
In this situation, there is no winner, but the issue could be resolved only through confidence-building measures for the local populace on the lines of Late Vajpayee’s doctrine “Insaniat, jamhooiyat, and Kashmiriyat”
