The Modi administration’s undemocratic revocation of the semi-autonomous status of the State of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) on August 5 through what legal scholars are terming an illegal and unconstitutional process is being proclaimed the death of Indian democracy.
Beyond such proclamations, the revocation has taken place in conditions of an intensified military occupation. Since midnight on August 4, authorities have instituted a blockade on communications in the region including internet services, mobile connectivity, and landlines as well as an around-the-clock curfew. Approximately 40,000 extra troops have been flown in, in addition to the half a million already present. The lockdown has been unprecedented even for Kashmir. Over 800 civilians including Kashmir’s political leadership, Chamber of Commerce members, Bar Association President, civil society actors, and human rights defenders have been arrested en masse.
Though shocking in its swift execution, this move was not unexpected. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has listed the revocation of Article 370 in its election manifesto, and the dream of ‘integrating’ Kashmir has been part of Hindu nationalism since 1947. Regardless of the political party in power, Kashmiris have endured 70 years of undemocratic hollowing out of the autonomy secured at the time of the region’s provisional accession to India. This hollowing out has been enacted through constitutional means, political corruption, and intensive state militarization, including a long history of detention of elected leaders and the rigging of elections.
