Article 370 anniversary: Valley calm amid statehood restoration rumours

Srinagar: As Jammu and Kashmir marks the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on Tuesday, the Valley remains calm and normal so far, despite a swirl of unverified rumours over the past few days suggesting major political developments could be announced by the Centre.

Educational institutions are open, government offices are functioning and traffic is plying as per routine across Kashmir. There is no extraordinary security presence on the ground, and early morning reports from various districts suggest business as usual.

For the last several days, strong speculation has circulated in political and public circles that the Government of India might announce statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Some versions of the rumour mill have gone further - suggesting that Jammu could be separated from Kashmir and granted full statehood, while the Valley would remain a Union Territory without a legislative assembly.

Another widely shared theory suggests that statehood may be restored, but with the condition that fresh elections be held, given that the last polls were conducted when J&K was a Union Territory.

So far, there has been no official word from New Delhi on any such developments. The administration in J&K has also remained tight-lipped, adding to the speculation.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370 - which granted special constitutional status to Jammu and Kashmir - and bifurcated the former state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, also dissolved the region’s elected assembly, placing it under the direct control of the central government through a Lieutenant Governor.

Since then, August 5 has become a politically charged date in Kashmir’s calendar — a day marked by silence and shutdowns in the initial years, but with a gradually returning sense of routine in recent times.

As the day progresses, all eyes will remain on New Delhi for any potential announcements, but for now, life continues undisturbed in the Valley.