In the era of smaller states and greater federalisation, reducing J&K’s status to a union territory is counter-intuitive. It is one thing to integrate the state fully with India by ending its special status but quite another to put it under direct central rule. The government must offer greater clarity.
BJP must address Kashmiri anger with humility, not euphoric celebrations
BJP has kept its ideological commitment on Articles 370 and 35A but it’s short-sighted to see it as the end of the Kashmir problem. If anything, this will only increase the anger and humiliation among people in the Valley. To address that, BJP leaders have to display humility, not euphoria.