India's Supreme Court Hears Challenges on Kashmir Special Status Removal
The Facts
India’s Supreme Court has begun hearing challenges to a 2019 law that stripped the Muslim-majority Kashmir region of its semi-autonomy. This drove the region into two territories that are directly run by the central government.
On Aug. 5, 2019, PM Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government removed Article 370 of the constitution, which left the two territories — Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir — without an independent legislature. The high court will now weigh the law's constitutionality.
The Spin
Narrative A
PM Modi and his Hindu nationalist government are abusing their power to target Muslims in Kashmir, violating their rights and spreading Islamophobia. Kashmir had operated with its semi-autonomous status for decades before Modi’s fascist government decided to illegally occupy and control the region. Kashmiris must be free to practice their religion and live how they wish without the Indian government illegally imposing its will on them.
Narrative B
The abrogation of Article 370 wasn't just a legal decision; it has also been a major win for the Indian and Kashmiri economies. In the four years since the provision’s removal, Jammu and Kashmir have seen unprecedented economic development, peace, and prosperity. While some Muslim separatists advocate for violent separation, most can see that everyone has benefited from the government’s decision to do away with the temporary Article 370.
