prestonjohn

Its a very controversial subject at the moment but Pakistan's repeated demands for the territory do not hold any water when you look at the history of the place.Kashmir was an independent kingdom when The East India Company acquired it in a very dubious deal and later sold it to Hari Singh for i think 11 million silver Rupees.It having a Muslim majority does not entitle Pakistan to claim ownership. In actual fact Kashmir is far older than Pakistan in terms of years.If anything it should be given its Independence and the right to self determination. I cannot see any good come from this manoeuvre by the present government to incorporate it into the Indian Union as just another state open to immigration and business.Its called the Chinese solution whereby mass immigration by Hindus will change the demographic map for ever.I only see trouble ahead but maybe that's whats needed to highlight the areas problems...Its been over 70 years since the incorporation of Kashmir into the Indian Federation and the only development that has seen growth are graveyards-its an economic basket case , maybe the economic growth that India has gone through might turn the tide.After all most ordinary people just want job security, a house, schools and safety-and they won't get that in Pakistan......

scot47

The reality is that Kashmir - like the Raj itself - was partitioned. India and Pakistan must live in Peace but forces in Islamabad and in New Delhi seem to be heading for war. I would favour a secular and socialist India and a Pakistan free of bigotry. I think those hopes are not going to be realised.

Bipat

Agree with what you have said. The amendment to the Constitution ---Article 370 could be removed at any time and this was in the recent election manifesto. (High Muslim vote helped increase Modi's majority!)
However I think he could have waited a while, at least to see how Imran Khan was getting his own independence from army control!! ---Possibly he wasn't!

The change will allow investment and job creation, and more freedom for Kashmiri women (they are not allowed to marry out!!) but I don't think individual Indians will move there,
CM Mehbooba Mufti tried to encourage the Pandits to return but they would not dare---house burning etc.
The separatists are a minority but a large minority and as you say encouraged by Pakistan and terrorism. they are not going to go away, violence will continue.

Tourism was flourishing both foreign and domestic---this will now halt! We had another trip cancelled when the Pakistan terrorist car bomb.

Large numbers of Kashmiris rent property in India in the winter months to sell their goods, four such shops in our town. We had been given the Kashmiri home address of one just before coming to the UK this march.

As you say the majority just want to get on with their lives and earn a living.