During the passage of bill, the support of crucial opposition parties and split within the Congress emboldened the BJP led ruling NDA in the Parliament. The chief opposition came from the Congress but the debate on the abrogation of Article 370 in the Lok Sabha left the Congress top leadership red-faced and embarrassed because many party members openly spoke in favour of repealing the discriminatory provision. Senior Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia, Janardan Dwivedi, Milind Deora, Deepender Hooda and Ashwani Kumar were among those who favoured of the revocation of Article 370. In response to some opponents charging the move as a historical blunder, the Home Minister Shah defended the legislation by saying that this was not a historical blunder but they were rectifying the historical blunder now.

Almost simultaneous precautionary and preventive measures were taken by the Central Government by deploying troops, restricting mass assembly and movement, curtailing internet and phone facilities in J&K and house arrest of the leaders of the two prominent political parties of Kashmir Valley. The government made it clear that these measures were intended only to prevent certain nefarious elements from instigating violence in the State and thereby maintaining peace and order in the country. The Government also made it clear that henceforth they will not talk with the separatist elements and those who support cross border terrorism; instead, they would remain committed to talk to anyone who swears allegiance to the Indian Constitution and is committed for peace and development in J&K.

Response of Political Parties and People

The kind of support received in both houses of the Indian Parliament from the members cutting across the party lines to vote in favour of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A suggests that an overwhelming majority felt that these articles were indeed discriminatory in nature and hurdle in the development of the state and its integration with the nation. The relevant bills and resolutions received the support of many opposition parties, including the Biju Janta Dal, YSR Congress, Telugu Desham Party and Bahujan Samaj Party. On the other hand, the main opposition came from the Congress with other parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazagam, Nationalist Congress Party, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Samajwadi Party too opposing it. The Janta Dal (United), an ally of the National Democratic Alliance, opposed the move but did not participate in voting along with opposition Trinamool and Samajwadi parties. In general, the common people across the country felicitated the government and celebrated the legislative success.

In a healthy democracy, dissent and difference of opinion is given due weightage and deference. However, after any legislation is passed or a decision is taken on the basis of a majority vote, it is accepted and implemented uniformly by everybody. However, it appears that the central leadership of the Indian National Congress is unable to reconcile with the fact that the Parliament has passed certain resolutions and bills in respect of the erstwhile state of J&K with an overwhelming majority. A veteran Congress leader from Kashmir Valley, was found engaged in disinformation and inciting people charging the government of having destroyed the state of J&K. Another senior Congress leader from Tamil Nadu alleged that the ruling party would not have gone for the abrogation of Article 370 in case Kashmir had a majority Hindu population. While the J&K administration has constantly maintained that there has not been even a single civilian casualty since imposition of the preventive restrictions in the state, the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated that things were going very wrong in the state of J&K and people were dying there.

Reaction of International Community and Pakistan

In response to India's move to end special status for J&K and split it into two union territories, the most critical and sharpest reaction came from Pakistan, unnerved and frustrated, when its Prime Minister Imran Khan called for a special session of parliament and launched an all-out campaign against India at all possible forums. He downgraded diplomatic relations with India by recalling his ambassador home and asking Indian ambassador to leave his country, immediately sent out emissaries to the UN, China and several Islamic countries in order to up ante against India besides giving an open threat of another Pulwama like terror attack. Pakistan's biggest failure was its disappointment with the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) comprising of 57 Islamic nations, which contrary to Pakistan’s expectations merely called for resolving Kashmir issue through bilateral negotiations.

In another new low in bilateral trade relations, Prime Minister Imran Khan personally announced suspension of trade relations with India on 8 August 2019. As per available data, the bilateral trade between India and Pakistan in 2017-18 stood at $2.4 billion with India’s exports worth $1.9 billion and Pakistan’s imports merely at $0.5 billion, which amounted to just 0.3 per cent of India's overall merchandise trade. Similar tentative estimates of India's exports stand at approximately $2.06 billion and Imports from Pakistan at $0.5 billion in 2018-19. Besides, as per the World Bank reports the informal trade between India and Pakistan stands almost at 91% of formal trade. Thus the available data suggests that suspension of trade is likely to hit Pakistan hard while India will have minimum impact. India had granted most favoured nation status in trade to Pakistan in 1996 while the latter had never reciprocated to this gesture.

As a gesture of peace and cooperation, India and Pakistan had agreed in the past to run two trains namely Samjhauta Express between Lahore and Delhi, and Thar Link Express between Jodhpur and Karachi for the ease and convenience of the travellers of two countries. Following the repealing of Article 370, Pakistan unilaterally announced stoppage of these trains between the two countries and the trains now stand cancelled sine die. After Balakot strikes, Pakistan had closed its air space for India including all international flights and they have done it again despite clear indications that the earlier closure had adversely hit cash starved Pakistan economy more compared inconvenience caused to India. A for more dangerous development in the region is the rhetoric and false propaganda of the Pakistani prime minister and other Pakistani leaders, who are constantly threatening a nuclear war with India and invoking Islamic countries to stand up for Muslims brethren in Kashmir.

As for the United Nations (UN), it stopped any mediation on Kashmir after 1962 and, instead, has repeatedly advised both nations to settle dispute through bilateral talks despite Pakistan raising the issue every off and on apart from their yearly chorus in the UN General Assembly, a stand consistently taken by India during the last five decades. Just to recapitulate the thrust of failed UN resolutions on Kashmir in 1948 and afterwards, three main points suggested in the same order were the withdrawal of all Pakistani nationals and tribesmen from the illegally occupied Kashmir territory, progressive reduction of the Indian troops to the minimum level in Kashmir and finally carry out a free and impartial plebiscite. Both countries had some reservations on conditionalties but the main reason for the failure remained non-fulfillment of the very first point by Pakistan i.e. withdrawal from the occupied territory.

In the instant case too, Pakistan gave an immediate call to the UN to intervene citing a risk of a possible nuclear war in the event the world community failing to ensure status quo by the Indian government in J&K. They did not receive any favourable response from the UN other than the usual advice of resolving the issue through bilateral talks. Among the world community, only China appeared to support Pakistan’s stand by resorting to its usual trick of initially endorsing the line of resolution of dispute raised by Pakistan by exercising mutual restraint and negotiations, then giving surprise by calling for an urgent discussion of the issue in the UN Security Council and separately raising concerns about Ladakh. The Security Council indeed held a closed door meeting without inviting the affected parties despite China’s push to allow Pakistani representative to participate but the Council concluded without issuing any press note or resolution. As nothing was officially shared, it is difficult to say what actually transpired but it is generally believed that the move of China against India did not receive support from any other permanent or non-permanent members.

The above position is vindicated by the fact that the Russia openly supported the legislation on Kashmir citing it an internal matter of India and that no other country had any locus standi in the matter. Russian Foreign Ministry unequivocally said that the changes associated with the status of the state of Jammu & Kashmir and its division into two union territories, were carried out within framework of the Constitution of the Republic of India. This position has again been reiterated by the Russian Ambassador recently in Delhi and a similar stand has been taken by France, another permanent member country in the UN Security Council. The United State President had created flutter sometime back when he made a statement that Indian Prime Minister was keen for his mediator role in Kashmir, a position that was immediately refuted by the Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson. Such speculations were more recently put to a conclusive rest during the meeting of G-7 nations wherein India was also invited. The Indian Prime Minister categorically ruled out role of any third country in the Kashmir issue in the presence of US President who simultaneously endorsed the Indian position. Earlier the US States Department had already announced that there was no change in US official policy in respect of the Kashmir issue.

Kashmir in the Aftermath of Legislation

Even before moving the relevant bills and resolutions in the Parliament, the Central Government had taken drastic and rather extraordinary measures to ensure that there is no trouble or violence in the valley and other parts of the state. By the time of writing these lines, almost a virtual communications blockage remains in most of the sensitive districts of Kashmir Valley. While the situation across the three regions Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is largely peaceful and people are allowed to move for urgent work and emergency needs, considerable restrictions are still enforced on routine business and assembly of people. Barring exceptions, the educational institutions have been opened in phases but considerable restrictions on internet and mobiles exist. Special precautions are being taken in Srinagar where the majority roads are barricaded and traffic carefully regulated. Besides, the political leaders of Kashmir Valley namely Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Sajjad Lone and several separatist leaders have either been arrested or put under house arrest.

As for the rest of Indians, most of them rejoiced, celebrated and returned back to their usual routine. The fact is Kashmir is still under restrictions in varying degree at varying places and the normalcy in day to day life and restoration of internet, mobile services and free movement needs no over emphasis. To that extent, those who are constantly raising these issues are not entirely wrong. However, this reminds me the saga of Kashmiri Burhan Wani, who was young, smart, bold and social media savvy but was misguided and resorted to terrorism. He became a hardcore terrorist and met a nemesis of terrorist at the hands of security forces. Separatists and even mainstream political parties tried to project his death as a sacrifice and, consequently, thousands of people participated in his funeral. Security restrictions were not in place, so miscreants and rumour mongers had their way leading to protests and violence that took a toll of over hundred lives and thousands injured in the Valley. Finally, curfew was imposed, internet and mobile services remained curtailed for over seven weeks and restoration of normalcy took many months. We have many such precedents as learning lesson; hence people opposing security restrictions must be patient and allow the Union Territory administration and security forces the requisite time to ensure normalcy without loss of life and damage to property.

The Government aggressively maintains that the constitutional changes will usher in an era of prosperity and progress for the people of Kashmir. A massive investment including considerable job opportunities is being planned for the union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to be implemented in a short timeframe. The Government has also planned to launch a month long campaign to educate people about the benefits of the legislation on J&K which was passed in both houses of Parliament with two-third majority of members present and voted. The overwhelming support to this legislation in the Parliament also vindicates the view that the majority of people and political parties were against this discriminatory provision in the Constitution but it was the lack of political will, courage and initiative that this temporary and discriminatory law lasted for so many decades after independence. Accordingly, when Prime Minister Modi and his party took this initiative, members of parliament cutting across the party lines voted for its abrogation.

Three most important organs of a parliamentary democracy are the legislature, executive and judiciary. The members of Parliament represent the legislature and wish of the people while the government represents the executive responsible for the execution and implementation of laws and policies. The Parliament has passed needful legislation for the repeal of Articles 370 and 35A as also reorganization of the erstwhile state of J&K with the requisite majority and the government is dutifully engaged to take all necessary measures to maintain peace and prosperity in the region. In the meantime, more than a dozen suits have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the legislation. The litigants are members of the political parties, activists and individuals, who are unhappy with the legislation; some of them even working on proxy at the behest political parties which want to avoid direct involvement. Only time will tell the correctness or otherwise of the legalities of the government decision which has been welcomed and hailed by Indian masses.

Epilogue

Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir is based on the premise that the state has a majority Muslim population while it was legally integrated with India through an instrument of accession after Pakistani army backed tribals and mercenaries attacked Kashmir to forcibly capture it in 1947-48. It was clear from the beginning that the Two-Nation Theory was erroneous and not tenable in the long run yet its fallacy was badly exposed again in the sub-continent when the commonality of religion could not hold West and East Pakistan together even for few decades. Today, India as a secular democracy has almost equal Muslim population compared to Islamic Pakistan and religion can no more be a basis for further partition of the country. As Pakistan constantly refused to reconcile with the realities and actively engaged in terror and LOC violations, the state of J&K could not stabilize even after seventy years of independence. Instead, it remained a constant sore point for the peace and prosperity of the region and a recurring trigger point for escalation of hostilities. Difficult problems require an out of box thinking and a bold initiative, and Modi government has shown their grit and resolve to overcome the Kashmir imbroglio by taking such an initiative. The decision should be welcomed and it should be left to time to reveal its efficacy in due course.