India’s Hindu nationalist government withdrew broad autonomy from the Muslim-majority part of Kashmir it controls. Home Minister Amit Shah announced the presidential decree in parliament in New Delhi on Monday, which is meant to replace Article 370 of the previous constitution. He guaranteed the state of Jammu and Kashmir a special status, its own constitution and flag, and far-reaching powers with the exception of foreign policy and defense and telecommunications.
The biggest change in the province’s political landscape in 70 years Tensions with neighboring Pakistan, which, like India, claims the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan asked US President Donald Trump to mediate; India has steadfastly refused to involve a third country. UN Secretary General António Guterres called on Pakistan and India to show restraint. In February, the two nuclear powers were on the brink of war after separatists – whom the Indian government says are backed by Pakistan – attacked a convoy in Indian Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has deployed thousands of police and additional soldiers to Kashmir and has the air force on alert. Telephone and internet connections have been cut off since last night. Authorities placed politicians under house arrest and erected roadblocks in Srinagar, the largest city. They banned gatherings and closed schools. Last week, Indian authorities stopped tourists in the region from leaving the country. The Indian army confirmed this with information about an attack planned by a Pakistan-based separatist group that wanted to attack pilgrims and tourists.
The majority of Muslims fear demographic change
The government plans to separate the Ladakh region, a plateau bordering Pakistan and China, from Jammu and Kashmir and place it under the central government. Rules barring Indians from other parts of the country from buying land in Kashmir will be repealed. Many of the state’s roughly 12 million residents were previously worried that the government was trying to change the demographic, characterized by its Muslim majority, in this way. Mehbooba Mufti, head of Jammu and Kashmir government until June 2018, told the BBC the government wanted to “occupy our country” by making Muslims a minority and “undermining them completely”.
Fierce debate took place in the Indian parliament. Politicians from the main opposition party have accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata party of “killing” India’s constitution. Prime Minister Modi announced the change during the election campaign and it was confirmed in May by a clear majority. The question of whether constitutional articles can be changed by presidential decree is likely to end up in India’s Supreme Court.
