Listen to the unspoken: On Kashmir lockdown (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Polity
Prelims level: Article 370
Mains level: Post Article 370 withdrawn situation in Jammu and Kashmir

Context

• Exactly a month ago (5th Aug), Jammu and Kashmir lost its special constitutional status (Art.370), and its status as a State, through a dubious (uncertain) and hurried (hasty) process.
• Ahead of that decision that could rankle (disturb) for years to come, the region, particularly the Kashmir Valley was put under lockdown with all communication cut and movement of people severely restricted.

Highlights about the situations

• One month on, the Valley continues to be under severe restrictions; the death of a teenage protester on Wednesday who was injured earlier may further delay the administration’s plans to withdraw the clampdown.
• Communication networks in the Jammu region of the newly created Union Territory have been substantially restored and the Ladakh UT, carved out of the erstwhile State, has not seen disruptions.
• Prominent newspapers published from Srinagar, discontinued for several days, have resumed publication.
• Mobile phones and the Internet are not back in operation and schools, though reopened, have sparse attendance in Kashmir.

Analyzing the situation

• It took a while before the Kashmiris learned about the lightning changes that had been imposed upon them.
• But a mood of triumphalism is evident across the country, which is resistant to an informed and tempered national discussion on the changed status of J and K.
• Reports of protests and police action from the Valley have largely been dismissed by the Centre. The continuing communication restrictions in Kashmir have only deepened alienation (disaffection).
• The revocation of the special status of J and K has the support of the majority of the political community outside the Valley, although the decision is under judicial review.

Measures taken by the government

• The government and other supporters of the move continue to argue that the people in Kashmir have been freed (liberated) from the political families that held power at their cost, that investments will flow in, jobs will multiply, women will get equal status as men in terms of inheritance and the Scheduled Castes – SC and ST - Scheduled Tribes will benefit from nationally mandated reservation.
• Unfortunately, discussions on these points in the last one month have been going on with little or no representation by the people of Kashmir who are the supposed beneficiaries.
• That they were not taken into confidence before the decision was made was bad enough, but what is worse is the continuing restrictions on free speech.
• The elected Mayor of Srinagar and a doctor who spoke out about the risk to lives due to restrictions were promptly detained.

Conclusion

• The reports that emanate (came) from the Valley in recent days, patchy (unequal) as they continue to be, point towards increasing alienation (disaffection) among the residents.
• Ironically, the most disappointed are those who believed that Kashmir’s future would be secure within India.
• The Centre needs to reassure them that the change of status is not to the detriment (deformation) of the people of Kashmir.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) What is M-Sand, recently seen in news?
A. It is a substitute of river sand for concrete construction.
B. It refers to the fine powder or dust found in Moon’s surface.
C. It refers to big crescent-shaped sand dunes found in Mars.
D. None of the above.

Answer: A
Mains Questions:
Q.1) The continuing communication restrictions in Kashmir have only deepened alienation. Critically examine the statement.