A first in 3 decades: No hartal, no shutdown call in Jammu and Kashmir during a home minister’s visit

For the first time in 30 years, there is no call for a bandh in Jammu and Kashmir amid the visit by the Home Minister to the state. 

As Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state to hold high-level security meeting, it appears that separatists are spooked by the Centre as they have not called for a shutdown in the state, which had typically been the case for the last 30 years. 

More so, even before Shah reached the state, separatist group Hurriyat Conference had already begun begging for talks. However, owing to the tough stand taken by the party leadership in the Central government on Kashmir which says that there won't be any talks until violence continues in the state, the Centre did not give in. The Jammu and Kashmir BJP also had made its stand clear on the matter saying that that the separatists are paid by Pakistan and cannot be they won't be trusted. 

The change in the scenario after 30 years has happened due to an iron-fist policy of the government against terror and those funding it along with stern focus on implementing manifesto promises on Article 370 and Article 35(A). They are listed in detail below.

Separatists Yasin Malik, Masarat Alam and Asiya Andrabi behind bars in connection to terror funding cases

On June 4, Kashmiri separatists Shabir Shah and Asiya Andrabi were arrested in connection with a terror funding case and produced before a Delhi court which allowed NIA their 10-day custodial interrogation. On the same day, separatist leader and accused ringmaster of stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir, Masrat Alam Bhat was moved to Tihar jail by the NIA in the terror funding case.

Separatist and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik was also arrested in April and was being interrogated by the NIA related to terror funding case.

READ | NIA Arrests Hurriyat Leader Masrat Alam And Two Other In Terror Funding Case, Moves Them To Delhi's Tihar Jail

From delimitation to Article 370 and 35(A), Centre's strong stand on amending J&K laws

High-level meetings are being held with regards to the state ever since Amit Shah official took charge in the Home Ministry, along with senior officials including the NSA, Home Secretary, the IB chief, RAW chief, and Army officials along with the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik.

The Centre is also considering to amend delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir constituencies.

The BJP in its Lok Sabha 2019 manifesto had said that the party would abrogate Article 370 and 35A from the state.

READ | "New Kashmir Policy Will Bring Justice To Migrants From Valley," Says Former J&K DGP Shesh Paul Vaid Assessing Delimitation

Zero-tolerance policy on terror

The Ministry of Home Affairs on June 25 had said that 733 terrorists have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years. MoS Home G Kishen Reddy had said that 113 terrorists were killed in 2019 till June 16. He said that 257 terrorists were killed in 2018, 213 in 2017 and 150 in 2016.

READ | '733 Terrorists Killed In Jammu And Kashmir In 3 Years': MHA Reveals Details Of Its Crackdown On Terror