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Opinion | Jammu and Kashmir on a new trajectory, a year after special status revoked
- J&K has seen a drop in violence, new domicile laws and a focus on grass roots democracy since India revoked Article 370 a year ago
- But Narendra Modi’s government must create a favourable environment for assembly elections and the communication clampdown is affecting the masses
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August 5, 2020 marks the first anniversary of the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), a watershed moment in India’s political history. The status quo over J&K was changed this very day in 2019.
While Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which granted the special status, was a temporary constitutional provision, it had seemingly become a permanent feature. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reminded us that it was not, and rightly so.
The invalidation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K state into two union territories – J&K and Ladakh – has put the region on a new trajectory after decades of separatism and terrorism. Kashmir’s domination over Jammu and Ladakh has been challenged. The long-standing political structure in J&K seems to be relegated to the sidelines while new political elements take shape, although it remains to be seen how these will play out.
Article 370 had been accorded biblical status by Kashmir-centric politicians since its inception, especially during elections, with National Conference (NC) dishonestly saying it was part of J&K’s accession with India. Its rival, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), would sing a similar tune. PDP chief and former J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, threatened there would be no J&K or India left if Article 370 was abrogated.

The revocation also meant going against the dominant narrative in Kashmir – that it could have created a security problem and disturbed peace, with key factors being support for the Islamist-separatist movement by a large section of J&K’s Muslim population and incessant sponsoring of terrorism in the region by Pakistan.
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