Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh became Union Territories on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first home minister of India and the prime mover of consolidation of the princely states of India after independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has aptly dedicated the reformation of this region to Sardar Patel. After 73 years of India's independence, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh will now witness a new dawn of peace and development after the crucial steps taken to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution.
After the agreement was signed with Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir, Article 370 was retained as a temporary provision in the Constitution of India. Despite so many years, no government had the courage or was able to take the risk of making this provision permanent or took steps to completely abolish it. The situation created two sets of laws in independent India. The only reason why this situation continued for centuries was that few families wanted to take advantage and strengthen their power by misusing Article 370.
However, on August 5, 2019 the Modi government made a statutory announcement of the dissolution of the special status of the state along with bifurcation of the state into two union territories. The Lok Sabha endorsed the move with two-thirds majority, while in Rajya Sabha (where NDA is in minority) 125 members supported it and 61 opposed the move. The advantage of the Article granting special rights to Jammu & Kashmir as well as Ladakh was certainly not availed by many people. Despite the region being an integral part of India, it remained isolated from industries and investments required for development. Trade was also limited. Now that the region is ruled by the central government, it is certain that its development will gain pace. It is definite that this unification will encourage inclusivity of the disadvantaged and marginalized classes in the state so far.
The reorganisation act not just reconstitute the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories but is also witnessing significant changes with the transition. Jammu and Kashmir will have elected legislative assembly and council of ministers headed by the chief minister for the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh will not have an Assembly and will be directly governed by the Union Home Ministry through the Lieutenant-Governor. With the establishment of peace, assembly elections can also be held in the valley. Central laws have now been implemented along with the schemes of the central government. Until now only permanent citizens of the state had exclusive rights to own property and apply for government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir. After the removal of Article 35-A, the laws related to the land will be amended and be applicable, in which other Indians will also have rights to own a property. This will help accelerate growth in the valley.
It is quite certain that this decision has perturbed India's terror-funding and secessionist neighbouring country. The terror attacks for decades have sacrificed thousands of innocent lives. Indian soldiers have also been martyred in such attacks. People are appalled by the terrorists for their call to boycott work and education. Schools in Kashmir are still closed and more than 15,00,000 students are devoid of education. In such a situation, the presence of armed forces is mandatory to protect the sovereignty of the local citizens as well as the country. Recently, members of the European Parliament paid a visit in Kashmir. They also unanimously validated the military presence after witnessing the violence and terrorist attacks in the Kashmir valley.
In the wake of proxy war, Pakistan has, and still promotes violence by providing refuge and nurturing terrorist groups. Now many such groups and politicians can be kept under the radar. When China called the partition of Jammu and Kashmir as unlawful and void, India categorically made it clear that the reorganisation is entirely its internal affair and it does not expect other countries to comment on such matters. India also slammed China for its occupation of a large tract land in J&K and Ladakh. Countries that are advocating human rights should, at first, exercise the rights in their country.
It is widely known that pro-Kashmir demonstrators recently carried out violence in the UK and vandalized India House. India is certain that it will not entertain any sort of intervention in this matter. This revolutionary step of India is to retain the beauty of Kashmir, globally recognised as a paradise on earth.
Myanmar for closer Indian ties
After decades of isolation by a military junta, little or no development, the people of Myanmar breathe freely and opening their minds to the country’s past culture and rich civilisation in which Buddhism played a seminal role. India was where the Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and set out on his lifelong journey to carry his message to the world. Thanks largely to the Mauryan Emperor Asoka, who ruled over India, and centuries later, to Kanishka, the seeds of Buddhism were carried to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and beyond, to Tibet, Mongolia, China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Japan. I000000n the Western world scholars have been drawn to aspects of Buddhism, the books holding the field in making the subject accessible, relevant and attractive to those engaged in exploring possible solutions to troubled humanity’s myriad problems. Buddhism is the sum of its parts, hence there exists varied schools of thought and practice, such as Hinayana, Mahayana and Yen, in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Tibet, Mongolia and Japan respectively. The clergy in the East has, alas, politicised the Buddhist spirit of non-attachment and obscured its core values. Such is the historical canvas and its contemporary form.
We return thus to Myanmar: long divided internally by ethnic and religious strife, that continues to simmer and exploded, from time to time, Myanmar has moved significantly forward, but still burdened by the pains of labour of its troubled birth. Institutions are taking shape, economic development is visible to the naked eye and living standards improve, lubricated in part by internal and external trade and foreign investment. Much more, however, needs to be done to take the country forward.
India is uniquely placed, especially for the younger, aspiring Myanmar generation with its accessible institutions in science and technology, not forgetting the liberal arts. A partnership of equals will be of mutual benefit to both parties.
Baghdadi: Hubris to Nemesis
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, founder of the nefarious Islamic State of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon (ISISL) the world’s foremost and most feared jihadi terrorist organisation, was hunted down and killed by a US Special Forces unit, the news disclosed in Washington by President Donald Trump, who specifically thanked Russia, Syria, Iraq, Turkey and the Syrian Kurds for their help and cooperation in running down the fugitive.
At its peak, ISIL controlled a swathe of territory from Iraq to Syria. Its operatives killed, raped and kidnapped their victims with impunity. Recruits from the Islamic world and beyond replenished its ranks in a steady stream. Baghdadi proclaimed himself Caliph of the new, murderous Caliphate. The West, for its part, the US and UK most of all, have much to answer for, having covertly and cynically succoured Islamist terror groups targeting Russia (Ahmed Zakayev, the Chechen terrorist, has been given asylum in the UK), but also indulgent towards kindred groups operating from Pakistan against India. Osama bin Laden, leader al Qaeda was tracked down and shot down with family in his Pakistani hideout by a US Navy Seal squad, on orders of the previous Obama administration.
The Baghdadi will surely have successors in a Middle East laid waste by the US military. Washington must explore a more imaginative policy for the area. The reliance on blind, unthinking force makes a bad situation infinitely worse.
India and Russia in high level consultations on counter –terrorism have condemned terrorism in all its forms, emphasising the need to adopt a uniform approach on the issue ‘without any double standards .’ The two partners exchanged views on threats posed by terror groups globally, including in particular , concerns in South Asia and the verifiable abolition all terrorist havens in the region, said a joint India, Russia statement.
