Kashmir’s Youth Will Define Its Future, Not New Delhi & Islamabad

Over two months have passed since the Indian Parliament abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, and imposed a communication blackout in Jammu & Kashmir — which is slowly being lifted, with postpaid mobile phones and landlines getting activated.

The national discourse that has erupted since has been severely polarized, with the majority of mainland India welcoming and, in many cases, aggressively celebrating, the abrogation. Many in the mainland have saluted the Centre’s decision to have a major military clampdown in the state, but all of the mainstream leaders under house-arrest and indefinitely extend the (now partial) communication blackout.

There has further been vehement support of the government’s decision on economic grounds as well, with many feeling that the scrapping of Article 370 will allow industry investment and galvanize Jammu & Kashmir for growth and development.