Unravelling Kashmir's political landscape post Supreme Court’s Article 370 verdict

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's recent verdict affirming the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, political parties in the region are grappling with disappointment and a renewed commitment to the fight for the restoration of special status.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC), two frontline political forces in the region, have been particularly vocal, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of dividing land and resources to favour its "cronies" and passing laws that disempower the region's people.

The PDP has raised questions about the BJP's contributions to Kashmir since assuming power in 2014. The party has highlighted concerns over the extraction of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir, cautioning that this activity could result in severe environmental damage and the displacement of local populations without commensurate economic benefits.

The PDP also critiqued the persistent power cuts in the region, attributing them to disproportionate power-sharing agreements and the absence of a local government.

"Other than dividing our land and resources for their cronies and using their brute majority in Parliament to airdrop laws to disempower our people, what has BJP done for us?" questioned the party that earlier formed the government with the BJP in 2016, in the region.

The party's scepticism extended to the Supreme Court's verdict on Article 370, with a pointed assertion that Kashmir's accession to India happened because of the vision of the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Also Read: SC upholds abrogation of Article 370: Five key points of apex court's verdict

Former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement in Parliament, expressed his respect for the apex court's judgement while reiterating the commitment to advocating for the restoration of J&K's special status politically.

Abdullah acknowledged the difficulty in convincing the judges but assured the people that the struggle would persist within the realms of law and democratic methods.

"We could not have done anything more than this. Unfortunately, we could not convince the honourable judges for which we are not only sad but we apologise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and those outside who wanted us to win this legal battle from the core of my heart," said Omar Abdullah, acknowledging the disappointment felt by the NC and its supporters.

The NC leader argued that the Supreme Court, in an earlier three-bench judgment, had deemed Article 370 as permanent. He pointed out the BJP's persistent efforts to revoke it despite the court's previous stance, suggesting the possibility that another bench might reverse the recent decision. Abdullah emphasised the long-haul nature of the struggle, indicating a continued commitment to the cause.

Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the People's Democratic Party, termed the Supreme Court's decision as a "setback" but underlined that it did not mark the end of their struggle. She argued that the verdict reinforced the notion that J&K's accession to India is temporary, echoing the sentiments of those who have long questioned the permanence of this relationship.

"The Supreme Court's pronouncement on Article 370, declaring it as temporary, is not our defeat but the defeat of the secular and democratic idea of India with which we acceded, rejecting the two-nation theory," Mufti emphasised.

Hurriyat Conference, an amalgam of separatist organisations led by chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed sadness at the Supreme Court's decision, however, it reiterated that it (the SC decision) was not unexpected in the present circumstances.

Mirwaiz, in a statement, said that those people who at the time of the partition of the subcontinent, facilitated the accession of J&K and reposed their faith in the promises and assurances given to them by the Indian leadership must feel deeply betrayed.

The socio-political dynamics in Ladakh presented a contrasting picture, with the Apex Body Leh (ABL) welcoming the Supreme Court's decision as a "strong step in the direction of strengthening national integration." The body expressed hope that the Central government would reassess Ladakh's situation and elevate it to a full-fledged state, citing reasons such as a large area, a patriotic population, the need for faster development, strategic location, and distinct ethnic and cultural identity.

On the other hand, the Kargil region remained sceptical, particularly regarding the question of Ladakh's statehood. Sajjad Kargili, a political activist from Kargil, emphasised the importance of continued dialogue with the Centre to fight for Ladakh's statehood, acknowledging the lines drawn between Kashmir and Ladakh by the government.

In 2019, the Ladakh region had witnessed protests soon after the bifurcation of J&K, with residents seeking protection from the Centre over concerns related to land, identity, and language. The Ministry of Home Affairs had later constituted a High Powered Committee in January this year to address the concerns of the people of the region. However, after disagreements over the committee's constitution and the meeting's agenda, representatives from Ladakh refused to engage with the Centre.

After 10 months of deliberations, representatives from the ABL and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) presented a four-point agenda to Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on December 4 in New Delhi. This agenda included statehood for Ladakh, safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, job reservation for the youth of Ladakh, and separate parliamentary constituencies for the two regions - Leh and Kargil.

The socio-religious bodies of both regions displayed unity in seeking protection for their respective areas, bridging the initial divide over the issue of UT status for Ladakh. Some quarters in Leh had initially celebrated the decision to designate Ladakh as a UT, while Kargil had expressed dismay over its separation from J&K.

BJP MP from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict on Article 370, asserting that it silenced those who questioned the government's decision. He emphasised the restoration of normalcy and peace in J&K and hinted at the Election Commission deciding on conducting elections at the right time.

Chhering Dorje, another member of the High Powered Committee from Leh, accused the Centre of pursuing "delaying tactics" in the matter of Ladakh's statehood. He stated that only returning the powers taken away from the Hill Councils would not constitute "empowerment."