40 economies. Hence, taking a clear stand against Beijing could undermine economically beneficial trade and investment projects. On the other hand, a government’s priority should always be the safety and welfare of its citizens. It goes without saying that, if Central Asian governments do not find an effective diplomatic way of dealing with the spreading antiChina sentiment that is rising in the region, future protests might be much less peaceful.
India’s Revocation of Articles 370 and 35A: A Call for Development or a GeoPolitical Strategy? By J. P. Tavares
Protests in Islamabad and Kashmir have rippled their way across to London, with a cry for justice for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. Such discontent is based on the belief that Amit Shah’s revocation of Article 370 and 35A of the constitution, is essentially a power-play to change the majority Muslim population, into a predominantly Hindu region. Article 370 of the 1956 constitution states that Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) are under special status of local autonomy, with the exception on matters of foreign policy, finance, defense and communications. Moreover, J&K had the autonomy of their own rule of law and local governmental KCL Politics Society
structures. This ties in with article 35A of the constitution, which essentially declares that only citizens of J&K are permitted to purchase property, and given that both are predominantly Muslim, the neighbouring Indian (Hindu) population are restricted from buying property in Kashmir. Many Indian officials, such as Shah and Modi, argue that this revocation of article 35A allows wealth to be brought into Jammu and Kashmir, generating jobs and opportunities for those who are entrenched in poverty. In fact, many make the case that J&K is a significantly underdeveloped region, and article 35A curbs the possibility of incoming wealth. On the contrary, J&K residents and Pakistani supporters argue that this is nothing but India’s geo-political strategy, who has, allegedly, illegitimately taken J&K from the Pakistani people. The revocation of local autonomy, and the availability of property for ‘foreigners’ allow the growth of a Hindu majority, a strategy that aims to legitimise Indian ownership over both domains. It is undeniable that the revocation of these articles has sparked protest and tension worldwide, in part, due to India’s behaviour once the decrees were removed. Institutions such as Amnesty International, and foreign governments have condemned
India for restricting communications from J&K for a period of two months. Additionally, Jammu and Kashmir is widely known as one of the most densely militarised regions of the world with over 900,000 personnel, and the recent revocation has been followed by an increased Indian military presence, carrying out over 4,000 arrests under the 1978 Public Safety Act, which permits arbitrary imprisonment for up to two years. Politicians and community leaders were also unable to inform or contact the media or their legislature, due to house arrests, and collapsed communication services. Locals have shown how children were unable to go to school, as parents feared imprisonment, protestor/military violence, and incommunicability with family members. This stagnation of day-to-day life, and the deprivation from work and school, are argued as the legitimate grounds to protest by J&K citizens, as well as Human Rights sympathisers. “What if there are clashes on the way? Who will inform us and who will take responsibility of their safety?" - Safiya Tajamul, parent of two, on not taking her children to school. The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has organised several marches and protests in the
