Indian Kashmir assembly demands restoration of special status revoked by Modi in 2019

Indian-administered Kashmir’s assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding New Delhi restore the disputed Muslim-majority territory’s partial autonomy, cancelled in 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government.

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New Delhi cancelled Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, a sudden decision accompanied by mass arrests and a months-long communications blackout.

It has been ruled by a governor appointed by New Delhi since.

But last month, the territory also elected its local legislative assembly, with voters choosing a government in opposition to Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A security personnel patrols a deserted road in Srinagar in August 2019 after a security and communications lockdown was imposed following the decision to strip the region of its autonomy. Photo: AFP
A security personnel patrols a deserted road in Srinagar in August 2019 after a security and communications lockdown was imposed following the decision to strip the region of its autonomy. Photo: AFP

“This assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of [the] people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status,” the resolution read, passed by a majority vote.

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