Kashmir is being ruled by democratically elected members

By Ziaur Rahman

True democracy has returned to Jammu and Kashmir only after the abrogation of Article 370. Before August 5, 2019, all power was concentrated in the hands of a few high-class Muslim families. They have ruled and oppressed the people of Kashmir for generations. But now, ordinary people are the real driving force of the state. The key to the development of the state is in their hands.

Elected representatives in Kashmir are being chosen based on their popularity. The large participation of people in the assembly elections indicates how pleased they are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government’s decision to abrogate Article 370.

Even though the BJP was defeated in the elections of Jammu and Kashmir, the opposition is now supporting the abrogation of Article 370. The leader of the ruling party in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference’s chief Omar Abdullah, has praised the central government. Instead of branding the BJP as ‘anti-Muslim,’ he stated, ‘I am a Muslim. I am also an Indian. I do not see any conflict between these two.’ He made it clear that after the abrogation of Article 370, the mental distance between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India has decreased even further.

Congress leader Salman Khurshid has also praised the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that the abrogation of Article 370 has led to prosperity and democratic progress in the region. The people are happy. He mentioned, ‘After the abolition of Article 370, there was a 65% voter turnout in the subsequent elections. Today, there is an elected government in Kashmir.’

In recent years, development was completely stalled due to the reign of terror by Pakistani-backed militants. Terrorism was rampant there every day. Strikes and clashes were regular occurrences. Today, Kashmir is largely free from that environment. Militants are no longer receiving help from the locals. As a result, a peaceful atmosphere has returned to the valley. Tourists are increasing. With the tourism industry, Kashmir’s lost glory has returned. Athar Yamin, the owner of the Kashmir tourism company ‘Earth Explorers Travel and Tours’, informed reporters that he has not seen such a crowd of tourists in a long time. He said, ‘Since 1975, we have been involved with the tourism industry. Just a while ago, we were sitting empty-handed. Now we are struggling to manage the situation because we can’t even provide accommodation for the tourists. There are no empty rooms in hotels. The crowd is increasing drastically.’ Mehrin Ali Chat, the head of the Srinagar travel agency ‘Ohana Holidays’, stated that he is having to hire new staff to manage the crowds.

Kashmir is very attractive to tourists not only for its beauty but also for religious reasons. After overcoming the challenges of insurgency and the COVID crisis, the region is ready to welcome tourists to its paradise on earth. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has provided various facilities for tourists with the cooperation of the central government. This year, more than one million religious tourists are visiting the famous ice Shivalinga in South Kashmir for the Amarnath Yatra. Local car businessman Gulzar Ahmed commented on the current state of the tourism industry, saying, ‘Many tourists are coming. It feels great. Business is also increasing.’

Since the abrogation of Article 370, not a single person has lost their life in exchanges of gunfire with the police. Incidents of stone-pelting have almost ceased. With the security in Kashmir now directly under Delhi, the influence of separatism has significantly reduced. Attempts by Pakistan to extend its influence in local institutions are also failing. India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated, ‘Since 1947, we have seen a facade of normalcy in Kashmir. But true normalcy is now prevailing in the Kashmir valley.’ The locals have understood that peace is the way to ensure their livelihoods. For their own economic and social security, the Kashmiris have now become supporters of the abrogation of Article 370. The Kashmiri youth have returned to the mainstream of India. Instead of supporting militants, local youths have increased their trust in the security forces.

About 1 million people in the Jammu region have not been granted citizenship until now. 80 percent of the laws made by the Indian Parliament could not be enforced there. While the leaders enjoyed power, the common people were part of the deprived class of government benefits. The political fate of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was controlled by the high-born Muslim community. They had no efforts for the development of the common people of the state. In their lust for power, the leaders only used the people of the valley to win elections. More than 2 million non-Kashmiri Muslims, nomadic Gujjars, and Bakrawal representatives of some elite families kept the ordinary Muslims deprived through corruption, misconduct, and nepotism.

After the abrogation of Article 370, voting takes place smoothly in the rural areas. The public participates in the village panchayat elections with a festive spirit. They elect their local representatives, demonstrating that the entire valley is starting to forget the politics of strikes or blockades. Many feared that after the abrogation of Article 370, there would be a resurgence of rampant bloodshed in Kashmir. However, real experience indicates that Kashmir Valley is experiencing its most peaceful period in the last two decades. In the meantime, the assembly elections have also been conducted without any hassle. The voter turnout was significantly higher than in the past. The participation and enthusiasm of the youth were remarkable. Since 2019, Independence Day on August 15 has been celebrated with great pomp. Locals are hoisting the national flag of India.

The development of Kashmir is in the hands of common people. At the grassroots level, common people are now the main architects of the state’s progress. The era of family rule is almost over. Therefore, elections in Kashmir are now celebrated with festive spirit. The Kashmiris themselves shape their own destiny. The days of mockery in the name of elections under the tight security of armed forces are now in the past. Hence, although many initially opposed it, the local people are wholeheartedly welcoming the historic decision taken by the central government over half a decade ago. Understanding the sentiments of the people, even the opposition in Indian politics is now praising the abrogation of Article 370.

Ziaur Rahman is a Senior Journalist in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Asian Diplomacy’s editorial stance.