New Delhi: Leaving aside all the Constitutionalese, Article 370 was, in essence, a compact between the Kashmiri political élite and the Indian Republic — in return for wide-ranging powers, the local élite agreed to Indian rule. Today, that deal has ended. This will have a number of consequences, say experts.
First, India has always governed in Kashmir through local parties. In 1953, when Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was seen as supporting independence, he was arrested — but other local leaders, like G.M. Bakshi and G.M. Sadiq, came on board with India. Now, New Delhi is saying it doesn't need the help of a local élite and that it'll run the show directly, as a Union Territory (UT). No one can say or predict how this will pan out.
