PoK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza observes first anniversary of scrapping Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir

Feeling proud of the day, activist Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) region living in Glasgow told ANI, “The abrogation of Article 370 helped the people of PoK to be a part of India.” 

He said violence has reduced in the Valley significantly ever since the Indian government scrapped Article 370.

Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the event.

Mirza told ANI, “It has broken the chain of violence which started on October 22, 1947 and continued right up to 2019. Cross border infiltration, violence against Kashmiri Pandits, target killings, drug smuggling under the guise of independence movement all came to an abrupt halt on August 5, 2019 with the abrogation of Article 370.” 

“Women are enjoying equal rights for the first time in Kashmir and 400,000 war refugees from PoK living in shanty camps have been recognised as Indian citizens and JK domicile status has been granted to them”, said Mirza.

On Aug  5 last year, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government in India scrapped Article 370 and 35A that accorded a special status to the state.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir was acceded to India through the instrument of accession in 1947, under which special status was granted by New Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir, under Article 370.

Article 370 had allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have its own constitution, flag and right to handle its own laws except on matters that impact national security, but it also beacme an obstacle to development in the region wracked by terrorism sponsored by Pakistan and the rule of political oligarchy.

Islamic terrorism also saw the exodus of the Hindu Kashmiri Pandit community from the Valley in 1989-90.

The Modi government also bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir state into two union territories- Jammu and Kashmir with an assembly and Ladakh without an assembly.

The Modi government also scrapped Article 35A, which had allowed the Jammu and Kashmir state's legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and also provided special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.