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KASHMIR

it is very much possible that the new pen, the long running movement for
political reality in Kashmir will beget freedom will meld with the struggle for
new faces. And they will go to people the restoration of special rights under
with new issues. And it is here that the India’s constitution. For once, both sep-
demand for Article 371 will come handy. aratists and unionists may define their
It will give new politics in the state its politics in adversarial terms to New
rationale. And that the major leaders Delhi, if not sharing the same platform.
like Beigh and Bukhari appear inclined And this can pose New Delhi its biggest
to be a part of the post- Article 370 poli- challenge in Kashmir. For the first time
tics shows that New Delhi has managed in seventy years, it may find no Kash-
to lay the foundation of a new Kashmir miri leader is on its side in the state”.
politics. But should New Delhi choose to
Still in its fledgling state, this new indefinitely extend the stay of these
politics faces a challenging and uncer- leaders in jail, this will allow new politi-
tain future ahead. For one, it remains to cal actors a space to flesh out their poli-
be seen how parties like National Con- tics. The credibility, however, of such a
politics looks moot.
One area where a politics revolv-
Home Minister Amit ing around the demand for Article
Shah recently told 371 could strike a chord is in seeking
to address deep concerns in Kashmir
Lok Sabha that the about the demographic change. But for
government has no that to happen, the new political noise
around Article 371 will need a degree
intention of removing of responsiveness from New Delhi too.
Article 371 of the And this hasn’t happened so far. After
doing away with Article 370, New Delhi
Constitution, which has adopted a sphinx-like silence on
includes ‘special the state. Its entire energy is focussed
on maintaining law and order in the
provisions’ for 11 state and ensuring no mass protests
states, including six take place against the revocation of
Article 370. It has yet to try a political
Article 371 for J&K, Beigh is trying to states of the Northeast outreach or signal it is ready to make
draw the contours of post Article 370 some accommodation with Kash-
Kashmir politics. The effort is still tenta- miri demands. And considering the
tive in nature and it is unlikely to find ference, the PDP and even Sajad Gani immense popularity of scrapping of
any resonance in Kashmir in the short Lone’s People’s Conference respond to Article 370 across the country, the
term. The Valley has been observing it. With their top leaders in jail, there’s space for New Delhi to make some
shutdown against the repeal of Arti- no clarity on their future course of political concessions to Kashmir is
cle 370 over the past more than three action. drastically limited. But the centre
months. Public transport has been off They have so far bitterly opposed the will certainly like to see the promi-
the roads. The shock of sudden loss repeal of the state’s special status and nent mainstream political actors like
of partial autonomy is yet to sink in. vowed to fight for its restoration. In the Abdullah, Omar and Mehbooba back
Major leaders which include three run up to the abrogation of the Article on Kashmir’s political scene but on its
former chief ministers — Dr Farooq 370 on August 5, all mainstream parties terms. The demand for statehood and
Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Meh- had closed ranks against such an occur- some small concessions like letting
booba Mufti — are still under detention. rence but to no avail. jobs in the UT government remain re-
And which means these leaders haven’t Once released, these politicians stricted to residents only are likely to be
warmed to the idea of Article 371. could also decide to unite and launch a acceptable to New Delhi. But as things
And in their absence, the idea is also mass movement for the reversal of the stand, it is still premature to speculate
unlikely to find any traction among the Article 370 revocation. Considering the about the course Kashmir politics will
majority of people in the newly created mood in the Valley, such a movement take in weeks and months to come.
union territory. is likely to witness an overwhelming
But as the situation is unfolding, public participation. Should this hap- LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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