Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Indian government move to scrap Article 370

Kashmiri pandits- who had to flee the Valley in 1989-90 after a wave of violence, including killings and rapes unleashed by the Islamists- celebrated the moment by dancing as the videos went viral on the social media just minutes after the Centre made the move on Monday.

Kashmir Samiti Delhi (KSD), a nodal agency affiliated to the government of India, is planning celebrations in the national capital to mark the day.

Sumeer Chrungoo, president of the KSD, told Times Now that it was Article 370 that created conditions which led to the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir.

He went on to reiterate that people of his community are still willing to return to their homeland and will return once the revocation of Article 370 comes into effect.

President of the All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, which represents the displaced people, Ravinder Raina, told Hindustan Times: “It is in the interest of the nation, which comes first. Now, we can also hope of breathing in the open air.”

Netizens also cherished the moment.

Actor Anupam Kher, a Kashmiri Pandit himself, congratulated the Indian government and tweeted: "I HAVE WOKEN UP IN NY TO THE BEST NEWS OF MY LIFE ABOUT KASHMIR. AND ON THE DAY MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY #LessonsLifeTaughtMeUnknowingly RELEASES! WHAT BETTER GIFT LIFE STORY OF A KASHMIRI BOY COULD GET. THANK YOU GOD, #GovtOfIndia, PM@narendramodi @AmitShah. CONGRATULATIONS INDIA."

A prominent Kashmir Pandit and activist Sushil Pandit posted: "Bharat Mata Ki Jai.@AmitShah jiyo!."

One Shivali, whose Twitter profile said she is a Kashmiri Pandit, thanked PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the move and tweeted: "@AmitShah
@narendramodi...Salute to you both and Big thanks on behalf of All Kashmiri Pandits."

Another Koshal Sharma said: "Only traitors will not see this as positive , Kashmiri Pandits are happy , they got a chance to return to thier roots and people of kashmir should welcome this that thier brothers will come back !!! Thanks GOI."

Netizen Yogini said: "@narendramodi @AmitShah@rajnathsingh@rsprasad@DefenceMinIndiathanks a lot for thisKashmir now free and we kashmiri pandits are so proud of you #justicedone."

Sunil Raina posted: "@AmitShahNow onwards we Kashmiri Pandits will never ever complain even if you cut off our heads. You have avenged us today . We shall always remain grateful to you and PM Modi. Many thanks."

Another netizen Bharti Raina posted: "@narendramodithanks Sir, you made it possible. I congratulate you on behalf of all Kashmiri Pandits on this big step. No words of appreciation, but wish all the best to you,Sir and healthy life ahead."

A large number of Kashmiri Pandits, who were once residents of Kashmir, reportedly left their homeland since early 1990  in the wake of threats and targeting by militants. 

They shifted to other parts of India like New Delhi.

Indian government takes major decision on Kashmir:

The politically-volatile and terrorism wracked Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, a bone of contention and military disputes for over seven decades between two nuclear armed neighbours of India and Pakistan, will not enjoy any special status anymore, as the ruling BJP-led government scrapped Article 370, in a move to integrate the Muslim-majority region with the rest of the country and bifurcate the state into two.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament that the government would scrap Article 370, the constitutional provision that allowed Jammu and Kashmir to make its own laws while massive troops deployment continued in the region where the local political leaders were put under house arrest since midnight.

Article 370 allows Jammu and Kashmir to have its own constitution, flag and right to handle its own laws except on matters that impact national security.

Also the BJP government on Monday announced to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories- Jammu and Kashmir with an assembly and Ladakh without an assembly. Thus Jammu and Kashmir loses its statehood.

The Modi government also scrapped Article 35A, which so far 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, through the presidential order.

The Home Minister said the decisions have been taken in view of fulfilling the aspirations of people of Ladakh and the internal security in Jammu and Kashmir.

While Kashmir leaders like Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti called the moves unilateral, unconstitutional and termed the day as darkest in Indian democracy, a larger number of otherwise anti-BJP political parties of India from Opposition- BJD, BSP, YSR and TRS- welcomed the move of scrapping Article 370.

In his statement, Shah said, "There has been a long pending demand of people of Ladakh, to give it a status of a Union Territory to enable them to realise their aspirations. The Union Territory of Ladakh will be without Legislature. Further, keeping in view the prevailing internal security situation, fuelled by cross border terrorism in the existing State of Jammu and Kashmir, a separate Union Territory for Jammu and Kashmir is being created. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be with legislature."

Both the bills have received the ascent of President Ram Nath Kovind.