August 5 marks two years since the Indian government nullified Article 370
and Article 35(A) to remove the special status enjoyed by the state of Jammu
and Kashmir since Independence. A lot has happened in the valley since then.
Political leaders, put on detention during the overhaul, have been released
and have initiated conversations with the Indian government. The government, on
its part, has promised full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at an opportune moment.
Kashmiri parties however maintain that they seek a restoration of Article 370
and have petitioned the Supreme Court on the matter.
Two years after the historic decision that transformed Jammu and Kashmir’s
legislative relationship with the political union of India, let’s take a look
at how the area changed and what the changes meant for the Kashmiri citizens.
What is Article 370?
Included in the
Indian Constitution on October 17, 1949, Article 370 conferred special status
on the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The special status allowed the state to primarily
perform the following functions:
It permitted the
state of Jammu and Kashmir to draft its own constitution
It restricted
Parliament’s legislative powers on Jammu and Kashmir.
What changed
on August 5, 2019?
On August 5, 2019,
the Indian Parliament withdrew the special status conferred to Jammu and
Kashmir under Article 370 but allowed Article 370 to remain on the statute
books.
The Presidential Order
extended all provisions of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir.
How has the
region changed since August 5, 2019
Since the withdrawal
of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the region has seen a number of
changes in its political, social and economic dynamics. Some of these include:
Separate flag of
Jammu and Kashmir became defunct
People from the
rest of India are allowed to buy land in Jammu and Kashmir
Non-local spouses
of women from Jammu and Kashmir can get domicile status
Gupkar alliance,
an alliance of all mainstream Kashmiri political parties, was formed to
negotiate terms with the Centre
