"Bahar ke log aayenge...hamare ghar kharid lenge, hamari naukri le jayenge, yahan ki ladkiyon se shadi kar ke property le lenge, masjidon ko band kar diya jayega, jagah jagah sharab ki dukane khul jayengi, hamara Kashmiri culture kharaab ho jayega, Kashmiri khud minority ban jayenge"
On 05 Aug 2019, these kinds of fears were being expressed by people in Kashmir. Many were not aware of what Article 370 was and thus misleading them was easy. The politicians knew it well as they had been using Article 370 as a leverage for political maneuvering. A fact check after abrogation clearly shows that the fears expressed by people were unfounded. Kashmir still exists the way it was. No demographic changes have been made that would make Kashmiris a minority in Kashmir and those spreading rumors about some kinds of planned demographic invasion have been proved wrong. In fact, after 05th of Aug 2019, the benefits of the Central government schemes which were otherwise not applicable to them due to restrictions of Article 370 have started reaching the common people. Also, unlike earlier, when the huge funds from the centre found their way in some deep pockets, now the money is reaching Panchayats directly. Yes, there are teething problems in the system that was earlier run at the whims of the dynastic politicians and corrupt people in the administration but the new system has found its roots. The erstwhile political and administrative power centres are creating hurdles to derail the new, grass-root level governance or slow down its consolidation. The shift of power in the hands of common people has drastically reduced their comfort space and survival chances; hence they have forgotten their old rivalries and are standing together to get back the good old days when their pound of flesh was guaranteed.
Even the most vocal critic would agree that the outreach of civil administration has been much greater than ever. Initiatives like "Back to Villages" are unique government schemes where the administration goes to the people. The outreach of civil administration has reached to the most far-flung areas. Notable infrastructure development is taking place in spite of the challenges of limited working season.
Tourism has seen notable increase and the resultant money inflow has been significant. Huge investments from the centre and other countries have been made in Kashmir. The planned summit of G-20 in Kashmir will further enhance the infrastructure of Kashmir, bring in big investments and put Kashmir on the world stage. Abrogation of Article 370 has thus integrated Jammu and Kashmir with the country completely and has opened the doors of development and prosperity.
In spite of the propaganda spread by schemers across the borders with help of old photos and videos of protests, the fact remains that a common Kashmiri has all the freedom to follow his religion, send his children to school and live his life the way he wants to. He is happy that there are no hartals or bandhs that earlier made his life a little difficult. He wants the markets and schools to remain open. He does not want the Pakistan sponsored terrorism in Kashmir.
So, the message to the propagandists is that to see the real "normal" Kashmir, you have to physically visit it; sitting in the couch at Delhi or abroad and commenting on Kashmir may get you likes on social media but will mislead people and don’t forget that you have to answer to God.
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