Article 370 scrapping draws emotional response from people across country
Kolkata: "I am overwhelmed, emotional, jubilant," said an entrepreneur in Jammu, echoing views of large sections across the country who hailed the Modi Government's decision on Monday to revoke Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir as "bold" and "historic".
But there were also voices of caution and apprehension especially from the Kashmir Valley and the Northeast, where several states enjoy special provisions.
Amid speculation about some big decision on J-K after the central government deployed additional troops in the state and directed pilgrims and tourists to leave, many were glued to news channels on Monday morning when Home Minister Amit Shah stood up to speak in Rajya Sabha.
Within minutes of his announcement, celebrations erupted as people came out on streets, danced to the sounds of drumbeats, burst crackers and distributed sweets while raising slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.
It was an emotional moment for many Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to flee the Valley due to militancy, as they hoped the decision would pave the way for return to their homeland with honour and dignity. "It should have been done long back. It is favourable for the nation. We are one. We should be one. We should not divide ourselves," Pina Misri, president of Kashmir Sabha, said in Kolkata. Sushma Bhat Tiwari, who is from Kulgam district of Kashmir valley and works as a senior HR professional with a multinational company, said women like her who married non-residents will finally get their rights.
"I married a non-Kashmir several years ago and lost the right of being citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. My children were also denied right to property and citizenship due to this law. But we are happy that this has been done away with and justice done to women like me," she said. Academicians and politicians in north-eastern states expressed apprehensions about the fate of the special provisions that protect the interests of their indigenous people. Lallianchhunga, assistant professor of the political science department in the Mizoram University, alleged that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government had been violating the federal spirits of the Constitution and moving towards a "unitary government". Riachho, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, said the Centre did not honour the Instrument of Accession signed on October 26, 1947, by Hari Singh.
