Retracing steps

 It was on August 5,2019 that the Modi government after its second successive landslide victory in the Lok Sabha election, and with an absolute 2/3rd majority, revoked the special status, or limited autonomy, granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir and thus, fulfilling its election manifesto that had been on the anvil for decades. The government argued that the abrogation was to put Kashmiris on the same footing with all other Indian citizens and to have one nation, one flag and one constitution. As per Article 370 under the agreement for accession of the independent princely state of J&K, the state had its own constitution, flag and special powers on citizenship under Article 35A. The abrogation was also sought to be justified on the ground of security. It was indirectly blamed for rise in anti-India sentiments and by extension, militancy and terrorism. All prominent J&K political leaders including the Abdullahs, incumbent chief minister Mehbooba and others were placed under house arrest after the state assembly was dissolved on June 20,2019. These are the people who had held the Indian flag high in the Valley and the hills, who stood against the Islamist theocratic enterprise founded and funded by the neighbour’s army. The abrogation hurt the sentiments of all Kashmiris at a time when consolidation was the need of the hour. Also, while India makes much about Pakistan Occupied Kashmir; it is a fact that China in fact, has illegally occupied largeparts of Kashmir, almost the size of POK. The devouring of territories by the Red dragon should not be ignoredIt has been two years since J&K was reduced to the status of Union Territory and bifurcated to J&K and Ladakh and the entire area teeming with police and paramilitary forces to tackle terror. However, in the end, the Modi government has belatedly realised that merely abrogating Article 370 and 35A, though serving the interest of the extreme right wing and ultra nationalists, has not guaranteed peace. The situation can be normalised(even if there could still be terror attacks etc) by having leaders of political parties and NGOs shoulder their responsibility towards confidence building measures. This will deprive terrorists from across the border a space. Finally, Modi and Shah appear to have accepted that a state ruled by mandated leaders will serve the interests of peace and internal security. The People’s Alliance for the GupkarDeclaration(PAGD), Congress and other parties, which have stood for dialogue and debates and have been critical of the manner by which the Modi -Shah duo are steamrolling mass sentiments. These leaders went to meet both prime minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah in the hope that something positive could emerge. Representatives of J&K political parties emphasised on reversion of statehood to J&K and holding of elections. Modi and Shah conveyed the need to normalise the situation and holding elections only after delimitation sans Ladakh.So long as India is a democracy, constitutional procedures cannot be brutalised by majority. India can become strong in all spheresonly if its citizens are confident of their future which their constitution guarantees.