All of you must be glued to your television sets and mobile phones, hungrily waiting for another update on the Kashmir issue. The commotion that has been happening in the Kashmir region for the past few days had kept everyone on the edge and now when the news has broken, it has served fodder for media houses and news agencies.
What if I tell you another fact about this day? You will be interested but not much! However, what if I tell you an interesting fact about this day which is related to Kashmir? I am sure you are very much interested now.
Amidst the hustle-bustle of what will happen in Kashmir and how this decision of the central government will affect the valley and its residents, along with the residents of Ladakh and Jammu, we have forgotten a very important fact about this date which comes as a coincident to the scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35A.
How Is Today’s Day Important?
Today is indeed a day which will go down in the history of India’s Kashmir province. Kashmir has been a topic of discussion and debate in Indian and foreign media for a long time now. The dispute on the land of Kashmir started from the day India attained independence.
The disputed territory succeeded to India by Raja Hari Singh was given special status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India, giving it specific rights and privileges, one of which was the privilege of having a separate Constitution and Penal Code. This provision was followed by Article 35A of the Constitution of India.
Today is the historic day when the Central government took a firm and bold step and moved forward to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution of India. This is an important and landmark day in the history of Kashmir, good or bad is what only time can tell.
Read Also: Will US’ Mediation In The Kashmir Issue Help It Or Worsen It? Here Are 10 Points To Consider
What A Coincidence?
In 1965, on the same date, i.e. 05th August, the 2nd Indo-Pak War, also known as the 2nd Kashmir War commenced.
This date marks a very important event in the history of Kashmir.
The second of the three wars fought between India and Pakistan and triumphed by India on the issue of Kashmir valley started on 5th August 1965 and went on till 23rd September 1965, when UN intervened and peace was established.
This war was never officially declared. The war started with infiltration of men from Pakistan and was further escalated by Indian armed forces into a full-fledged violent struggle between the two countries. The skies of Kashmir Valley throughout the war remained clouded by aircraft and fighter jets from both sides of the war.
This war was an attempt by Pakistan to bring the dispute on the fertile land of Kashmir into the limelight again, after the first war which took place shortly after both the countries gained independence.
The end of this war brought hope to the residents of Kashmir who were looking forward to a referendum.
That day, the hope of referendum which was revived has now been subdued forever. India no longer has the State of Jammu and Kashmir and now, only the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir exists.
The hope that ignited on this day in 1965 came to an end on the same day. India will remember this day as a day when the struggle for a referendum in Kashmir was infused within the common men of Kashmir and also as a day when the same struggle came to an end forever.
Fun Fact: 25 years back on 5th August, Blockbuster movie Hum Apke Hain Kaun was released.
The title of the movie is exactly what Modi indirectly said to Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah and Hurriyat today.
Image Source: Google Images
Sources: Adst.org, Thoughtco, India Today
Find the blogger @innocentlysane
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