Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan during a meeting. -File Photo/NDTV
The Indian government has recently scrapped constitution's Article 370 which allowed a special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign affairs analysts have said that India has made the right move by eliminating this law and have commented that keeping Jammu and Kashmir under the central Indian government is important to safeguard this region from the upsurge of religious extremists.
Article 370 was incorporated when India adopted its constitution. Subsequently, it became the basis for several privileges that were announced for people of Jammu and Kashmir, such as restricting people from outside of the state to buy property or claim right to employment.
All of these privileges will now be at par with union territories. The central authorities moved a draft law for parliament's approval to turn Jammu and Kashmir?into one union territory and Ladakh as another.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the government has proposed an assembly, which means the region will have a chief minister - but many of its crucial powers, such as those relating to police and land - will be controlled by the federal government, similar to what happens in the national capital of New Delhi. Pakistan, which claims the Kashmir region as its own,
called the move illegal and said it will take "all possible steps" to counter it - the steps were not spelled out.
Ever since the last monarch of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh introduced the law, women of Jammu and Kashmir were kept at bay from being the permanent residents by virtue of the provisions of this law in a situation where they chose to marry impermanent residents. So, the abolition of Article 370 is going to be beneficial for the women of Jammu and Kashmir and it will also ensure equal rights for citizens.
The Pakistani establishment has removed restrictions form militant groups and leaders and has allowed infiltration through the Line of Control enabling extremist groups to conduct violent activities in India. Allegedly Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) has nodded to Jaish-E-Mohammad to execute attacks on Jammu and Kashmir as well as on other Indian cities. The elimination of Article 370 will strengthen the security bulwark of India and will ensure the safety of the Indian citizens.
Reportedly the sleepers cells of Jammu and Kashmir have been activated in Mumbai. Most of the Islamic radical gangs have their hideouts in Kashmir. For this reason the central Indian government needs to keep sharp eyes on things happening in Kashmir which is why the revocation of Article 370 has been applauded by the peace-loving people of India.
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