Article 370: Normalcy and development still some distance away in valley, says PDP leader

Speaking to ETV Bharat, People's Democratic Party MP Fayez Ahmad Mir said that since the decision to remove Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcate the region into two Union territories on August 5, neither normalcy returned nor there has been any development in the valley for the last one year.

New Delhi:As abrogation of Article 370 is going to mark one year on August 5, a look back into the historic decision taken by BJP led central government has highlighted a sense of silence, hopes and aspirations.

It was August 5, 2019, when Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Parliament that abrogation of Article 370 brings a promise of development, normality and end of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

In fact, BJP never couched its intention to do away with Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Abrogation of Article 370 was always a poll promise of BJP for greater integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.

Section of people, however, believe that with such abrogation, BJP wants to fulfil its political agenda.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, People's Democratic Party (PDP) Rajya Sabha MP Fayez Ahmad Mir said that Neither normalcy returned nor there has been any development in J-K for the last one year. On the other hand, the last one year brought a lack of trust and uncertainty for the future.

He said that the entire region was clamped under total curfew for 3-4 months.

"Even when the government started withdrawing the curfew, nothing substantial happened in the Union Territory due to winter season and after that coronavirus pandemic hit," said Mir.

He also criticised the government's announcement for all-round development in the region.

"It's almost a year but normalcy is yet to return. How come any investor or even public sector unit can come and invest in J-K amid such uncertainty," said the PDP MP who was always vocal against the abrogation of Article 370.

"We have observed only one development and this is the appointment of a Lt Governor in place of Governor," said Mir.

Echoing the same view senior CPM leader Yusuf Tarigami said that the decision taken by the central government has hurt the sentiments of the people of the valley.

"Ever since J-K merged with India following the independence in 1947, It had the special status recognising the historic marger...but the BJP government without consulting the stakeholders took a unilateral decision just to create chaos in the name of development," said Tarigami to ETV Bharat.

"J-K's statehood has been withdrawn bifurcating into two Union Territories. What has been the outcome of such a drastic decision?" asked Tarigami.

Restoration of mobile and internet services is yet to take place in the valley. Many of the political leaders who were put under house arrest are yet to be released.

Albeit, a few like Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah of National Conference (NC) who were released in March this year reportedly on "certain conditions."

BJP government's such decision was also criticised by many including its former ally Shiv Sena.

Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 from J-K, Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna had said, "...there's blood on the street...and there is a loss of innocent lives."

Abrogation of Article 370 is of course not a finished job for the government. The subsequent developments like the issue of domicile, delimitation and demographics are also at the forefront of controversy.

The new domicile rule, issued by the centre to replace Article 35A, has come under severe criticism, who find the decision as a ploy to change the demographic profile of J-K.

People have raised their concern following the fact that government jobs in J-K will no longer be confined to the local people.

However, the decision to abrogate Article 370 was also hailed by many.

"It was a long-awaited decision. The abrogation will now definitely connect J-K with the rest of the country," said security expert and former director-general of Border Security Force (BSF) Prakash Singh.

He said that the government, in the last one year, has drawn strategy and started working on it.

However, looking into the prevailing situation of the valley, the government should try to bring normalcy in the Valley as soon as possible, he added.

The former BSF top cop, however, admitted that due to law and order situation and prevailing pandemic, development in the Valley has not yet taken.

With the government making its stand clear on J-K, it's time now that all stakeholders should be brought under one platform so that the Valley with majestic mountains and imperial grandeur could again rule the heart of the people with a new look.