You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
India-Pakistan
Jammu and Kashmir ceases to be a state. Split into two Union Territories
2019-10-31
The view from India. See the view from Pakistan in the next article, below.
[TimesOfIndia] NEW DELHI: At the stroke of midnight, Jammu & Kashmir ceased to be a state of the Union, making way for two new Union territories of J&K and Ladakh. This marks an important milestone in the history of J&K and, especially, Kashmir Valley’s tense ties with the rest of the country, and culminates the process which started on August 5 with the landmark announcement for emasculation of Article 370 as well as end of statehood for J&K.
Note that the Kashmir region accounts for 15.8% of the area and 54.9% of the population while the Jammu region accounts for 25.9% of the area and 42.9% of the population. The Ladakh region has 2.2% of the population but 58.3% of the area. (Figures from Census of 2011). If Hindu dominated Jammu region begins to agitate for freedom from Kashmir, only 15.8% of the erstwhile J+K state will be left.
This also put to an end to J&K’s flag and constitution, symbols of the state’s special status. With October 31 fixed as the appointed day for reorganisation of J&K, the new lieutenant governors of the two UTs — G C Murmu in J&K and R K Mathur in Ladakh — will be sworn in at separate ceremonies in Srinagar and Leh, respectively.

The creation of the UTs of J&K and Ladakh coincides with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, credited with the merger of over 560 states with the Indian Union and who has been promoted by the Modi government as the embodiment of national unity and muscular nationalism.
Posted by:John Frum

#3  I also doubt that further division is on the cards. The religious demographic of Jammu is complex and keeping it with Kashmir (where it has been ever since the British bought Kashmir valley from the Sikhs and gave it to the Dogra rulers of Jammu) prevents a situation developing where a hostile political class dominates an administrative unit of India. Ladakh is protected by 89,000 Indo-Tibetan Police and XVI Corps of the Indian army (being reorganized into integrated battle groups). Two other Corps protect Jammu and Kashmir
Posted by: John Frum   2019-10-31 11:02  

#2  If Hindu dominated Jammu region begins to agitate for freedom from Kashmir

The incumbent party may try to bring about such an agitation, now that you mention it. But it'd be a daft thing to do on their part. The recent defeat in the block council polls in J&K to local independents may motivate them to such an error. I hope it won't.

If we ride this out, keeping the kashmiri islamists out of power and the restive locals in semi-quarantine, that 54.9% can be brought to include more religious groups by next year.
Posted by: Dron66046   2019-10-31 05:49  

#1  Hi John, long time no see.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2019-10-31 02:09  

00:00