After the Modi government returned to power with an even bigger majority than last time and secured sufficient strength in the Rajya Sabha to get the most contentious legislations through it, it was clear that it was about time that the government makes a move to abrogate Article 370, and fulfill a promise which has been a part of its manifesto since its inception. And now that the disputed clause which gave special privileges to the state has finally been abolished, it’s time for us to rejoice in the integration of a disputed territory, the state of Jammu and Kashmir, with the other parts of the country.
Although this celebration should be accompanied by an important realization that the job of integrating the local Kashmiris with India is still not completed and efforts in that direction will have to continue.
This step also marks an unprecedented and the boldest decision taken by the Modi government, far bigger than demonetization, or even the surgical strikes. It was all done in a very planned and a meticulous manner: first, a hype was built around the issue by abruptly calling off Amarnath Yatra and deploying thousands of extra troops, then a curfew was imposed in the state. The stage was set for the D-day by putting several prominent Kashmiri politicians under house arrest and finally, the BJP under Modi and Shah, executed a perfect political masterstroke by scrapping Article 370, realizing its long held dream.
The hasty manner in which the whole process was carried out, and the sudden cancellation of Amarnath Yatra which was a matter of high prestige for this dispensation, should leave no doubts in our minds that this was a political move with an aim to reap rich dividends out of it in the subsequent elections and divert the attention of the masses from an ailing economy. But the question which arises here is: can the end justify the means?
Was it really so necessary to put the elected leaders of the state under detention? Why did the government not make it a point to consult the people and political leaders of the state first? What was the need to reduce the status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir to a Union Territory and bifurcate it? The people of the state deserve an answer to all these questions from the government.
The revoking of the special status enjoyed by the state was the less difficult part and the more complex part of the whole process remains, containing the fallout of this move, and ensuring that there is no sudden spike in militancy and violence in the state. The government will now need to devise a strategy to take the local Kashmiris into confidence, and sensitise them about the positive change that this step can bring to their lives.
The reason that the government used to justify the nullification of Article 370 was that it was proving to be an impediment in the progress and development of the state and was promoting separatism and violence in it. Now that this contentious clause has been done away with, it becomes imperative for the current dispensation to ensure that the peace which has long eluded the state returns to the valley and the process of development and progress in the state picks up pace.
The government should be mindful of the fact that, with the current economic slowdown and India’s neighbours continuing their shenanigans, doing so won’t be an easy task. But now that the government has taken this gamble it has no option but to deliver on its promise. If it fails to do so, it should brace itself for the impact of this political masterstroke turning into a strategic blunder for the country.