J&K - Rights In Limbo

The Centre’s push to rescind Articles 370 and 35A has lent the political uncertainty in J&K a new edge.

- Asit Jolly

In a press conference in Srinagar on June 12, Jammu & Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik attempted to take the edge off rising apprehensions in the Valley that the new government at the Centre was committed to the idea of abrogating Articles 370 and 35A, which guarantee special laws and safeguards for the state. Malik said this was not a new idea, and yet maintained that there was “nothing to worry about”. He even cited, in an earlier interview in October last year, similar provisions in states like Himachal Pradesh and the Northeast. In that interview, Malik went so far as to hold out a “guarantee”, premised on his “faith in the Indian judiciary”, perhaps referring to the petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of 35A.