Normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir post-Article 370 abrogation: Myth or reality?
Article 370 for Kashmiris to attend the flag hoisting ceremony freely and fearlessly at Bakshi stadium in Srinagar on Independence Day last week. While this is a strong indicator of the changing life and environment in the troubled state that has not seen any street violence in the last few months, peace and complete normalcy may still be a long march away.
A visit by this correspondent to Srinagar and adjoining areas and meetings with locals and officials revealed that Jammu and Kashmir has traversed a significant distance since August 5, 2019 when special status was withdrawn and the state turned into a Union Territory. A look at some of the developments and challenges.
Politics
The oft-repeated question in Jammu and Kashmir among politicians is when the Assembly elections will take place and statehood be restored. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has assured that the promise made by Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of Parliament is sacrosanct and will be followed. Shah had stated that the sequence of events will be — delimitation of constituencies in the state, followed by revision of electoral rolls, Assembly elections and full statehood once the situation became conducive for it.
While delimitation and revision of electoral rolls have been done, there is no clarity about when Assembly elections will be held. Though it is obvious that the abrogation of Article 370 will not be reversed ever, PDP and National Conference present this as their key demand in all public interactions.
BJP is not likely to go for elections till it feels its own electoral prospects- in a post-poll scenario where one or more of the regional parties join hands with it- are somewhat bright. With the Lieutenant Governor- a BJP leader no less-
