Failure on the part of the two dynasties that ruled Jammu & Kashmir since 1952, to restore peace and order has led J&K to the present predicament of being divided into two geographical units — J&K and Ladakh.
Not just this failure to give good administration, the indirect support these dynasties have been giving to the Hurriyat (those who are seeking Independence to J&K) and feigned concern shown towards terrorist attacks from across the border, must have hastened the decision taken by the BJP (NDA) Government. For 72-long-years (with the help of Congress Party) J&K politicians kept fooling the rest of India. Surely, they could not fool all the Indians for all the time to come, to recall the words of Abraham Lincoln. Today is another day of Destiny for Modi’s NEW India.
By K.B. Ganapathy, Editor-in-Chief
India, that is Bharat,” according to Part I Article 1 of our Constitution has from today become, in a metaphorical way, “India, that is Mahabharat.” For once BJP has, or at least seems to have, kept its 2019 election promise and delivered on it. The Article 370 and Article 35 A are going, going…gone. These Constitutional provisions provided Special Status to Jammu & Kashmir. Now they stand Revoked.
As expected, the beneficiaries, mainly belonging to two main dynastic political parties of J&K, are crying foul. They do not seem to have satiated themselves of their hunger for power and pelf since 1952 when these provisions gave J&K Special Status. They enjoyed life as rulers, like Mogul Governors of different regions, even as people of J&K (very humble, lovable and hard-working people) suffered under militants, terrorists and bad or no administration under their own Farooqs and Muftis with the Congress Party making political capital.
It was political dithering on the part of the freedom movement leader of Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah — father of Farooq Abdullah and grandfather of Omar Abdullah — and the last Hindu King of J&K Maharaja Hari Singh who were responsible for the mess J&K found itself then and also today. The situation for Hindus (Kashmiri Pandits) in J&K had so worsened that over 60,000 families of Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of Kashmir Valley due to militancy that they became landless emigrants (living in Delhi Camps) in their own Free India !
But the irony is that the first Hindu to be driven out of J&K by its first Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah was none other than Maharaja Hari Singh himself. He was packed out of Srinagar. I think, the poor Maharaja chose to live in Delhi or Bombay… Paradoxically, Maharaja’s son Karan Singh has been a great patron, admirer and supporter of Congress Policy on J&K.
The division of J&K on these lines, as done today, was in fact due at the time it acceded to India under violent circumstances. Let it be. Better late than never.
Those who are now screaming ‘Foul, Foul’ in the Parliament (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) are those who were and are unable to control the stone-pelters, militants and terrorists creating perpetually disturbing situations in the Kashmir Valley. Henceforth, let us hope, with this bifurcation there is going to be peace in the Valley, Jammu and also in Ladakh. And people want peace and it is only with peace comes progress.
Jai Ladakh and Jai J&K
This is a decision which should be welcomed by one and all who believe in the great idea of secular India. It is unfortunate that it has taken 72 years for India to take this decision. It is surprising that only now we talk of three families (realistically speaking may be more) who have been benefited by continuing to pay respects to Article 370. Of course all the Islamic fundamentalists supported by Pakistan must have also been able to play on the religious sentiments to monetize their political power. My compliments for your comments. Hopefully we will see more articles giving the reasons for the delay in abrogating 370. Let us not forget NDA-1 led by Vajaayi also did not take this decision.
Omar Abdullah had sworn on a function in a Congress supporters meeting had sworn that Article 370 can be removed o my over his dead body ! Modi has kept his word! Now it is Omar Abdullah’s turn! We are all waiting
Abraham Lincoln was not great as he was often portrayed, mainly through his writings and Gettysburg speech . where he thundered: ” all men are created equal”, but yet he did not consider blacks were created equal as he many of them as slaves. His dialogue with Mormon chief Brighsm Young showed his duplicitous nature.
Any way, this removal of article 370 and bifurcation, does nothing to change J and K as the disputed territory , which happened when Nehru went to the UN. J and K problem will stay as it has been for decades since then.
The move to fully integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of Indiawas long overdue.It is of immense relief that Modi Government has shown political will to correct the deplorable state of affairs in the State by correcting the blunders of Jawaharlal Nehru. In sharp contrast to the welcome development was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaking the Pakistan language during the Lok Sabha debate on abrogation of Article 370 regarding Jammu and Kashmir is receiving not only widespread condemnation across the nation but is also being strongly disapproved by many sensible leaders of his own party including late Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s sin Anil Shastri, Janardhan Dwivedi, Ashwani Kmar, Jyotirararadhya Sindhia, Milind Deora, Rajasthan Sports Minister Ashok Chandna, UP Congress MLA Aditi Singh and the party’s national spokesperson Jaiveer Gill. Ironically the highly objectionable stand of leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banarjee is being exploited by Pakistan Government to step up counter moves to weaken Modi regime’s plans of ensuring peace and security in the Stare of Jammu and Kashmir.
@Charavarthy You fail to understand that this constitutional change does not make the J and K problem lodged at the UN by Nehru go away. J and K is still a disputed territory. Perhaps all this will do is to make sure that J and K citizens can move across to other states in India in search of jobs. This may be a good result, so do the J and K insurgents who are sleepers can also move as far South as Karnataka and these are not good people. That is scary, that is Pak-supporting insurgents mingling as J and K citizens of India fomenting trouble in other parts of India as J and K is now like other state in India. That may be reason Anil Shastri is worried. Security willnot be improved as state police in all states of India, will have to look for Pak-supporting insurgents, as this become a new problem.
What was done was long overdue! Still we have terrorists, separatists, terror supporters, power grabbers , psedo seculars who keep branding Hinduism as intolerant and Indian citizens namesake with a heart bleeding for Pak and China! Some of them are paper tigers but a lot of them can back stab at the first chance! Unless these pests are eliminated, solution is still far !
You are a fascist pig .Just because others think differently from you, it does not mean they are traitors. What you are hint is is killing them . How are are different from HItler?