Question -
Answer -
The internal divisions of the State of Jammu and Kashmir comprise three social and political regions: Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
- Kashmir region is the Kashmir valley consisting of Kashmiri speaking and mostly Muslim with a small Kashmiri speaking Hindu minority.
- Jammu region consists of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs and speakers of various languages, in the areas of foothills and plains.
- Ladakh region is equally divided between Buddhists and Muslims and maintains a little population area.
These internal divisions led to multiple regional aspirations as below:
Internally, there is a dispute about the status of Kashmir within the Indian union. Kashmir was given a special status by Article 370 in our Constitution giving greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir compared to the other States of India.
- This section feels that Article 370 should, therefore, be revoked and J&K should be like any other State in India.
- Another section, mostly Kashmiris, believe that the autonomy conferred by Article 370 is not enough.
- A section of Kashmiris has expressed at least three major grievances.
- First, the promise that Accession would be referred to the people of the State after the situation created by tribal invasion was normalised, has not been fulfilled. This has generated the demand for a ‘plebiscite’.
- Secondly, there is a feeling that the special federal status guaranteed by Article 370, has been eroded in practice. This has led to the demand for restoration of autonomy or ‘Greater State Autonomy’.
- Thirdly, it is felt that democracy which is practised in the rest of India has not been similarly institutionalised in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the present scenario, most of the separatist in the dialogue is trying to re-negotiate a relationship of the state with India.