Kashmir's new dawn: Dismantling the past, building a future of progress for all

Prime Minister Modi's resolute leadership has not only corrected a historical wrong but has also paved the way for the region's full integration into the national mainstream.

- KARTIKEYA SHARMA

For decades, the contentious issue of Article 370 had cast a long shadow over Jammu and Kashmir, hindering the region’s progress and perpetuating a sense of alienation from the Indian mainstream. The archaic legislation, the relic of a bygone era, had be come a symbol of the region’s isolation, stifling its development and denying its people the fundamental rights and privileges enjoyed by their fellow citizens across the nation.

The origins of this controversial provision can be traced back to the negotiations between the erstwhile leaders of the time, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah. While Nehru himself expressed frustration with Abdullah’s lack of political foresight and tendency to make inappropriate statements, he ultimately acquiesced to the Sheikh’s demands under the Nehru-Abdullah Pact, effectively granting Kashmir virtual independence within India. This decision, made after Sardar Patel’s death, was criticised by those who viewed it as detrimental to national unity.