What is this article 370 & Kashmir controversy

 

My colleague from US messaged me today and asked “What is this article 370 & Kashmir controversy all newspapers are taking about and why is Pakistan so upset? Will this result in war with Pakistan now?”

I told him “ Look, 5 years ago  Facebook acquired Instagram. Isn’t it? Now, If Mark Zuckerberg announces that both Instagram and Facebook will be streamlined and will have common login accounts, will Google or Microsoft or any other company be offended?”

He said: “ Of course not!! When the whole world knows that Instagram belongs to Facebook, then why should anyone bother if they both merge into a common account. In fact, it is good for users because they will have a seamless experience.”

I said: “Exactly!! Same is the case with Kashmir as well. Few decades ago, Kashmir officially acceded to India, which is equivalent to Instagram being officially acquired by Facebook. But temporarily, they had to continue using their own Constitution, which is equivalent to Instagram using a separate login account.

And now what has happened is that Government of India has streamlined the accession so that Constitution of India applies to Kashmir as well, which is equivalent to streamlining the facebook-Instagram login in order to use common account.”

He exclaimed “ Oh that’s all the issue is all about!! Thanks for explaining using simple analogy. Now I will fully support India because what they are doing is perfect and in the best interest everyone. Most of my friends in US  and UK are actually confused with the news and there are lot of misinformation spread over this by our liberal newspapers.

I will use this facebook-Instagram analogy to explain them and demystify their confusion. Thanks again.”

Indian-administered Kashmir has been under curfew since Monday, when India revoked a special constitutional status dating back nearly 70 years. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, had been under a virtual lockdown since Monday morning with shops, schools, colleges and offices  shut as there is no public transport on the roads.

Last week, the annual Hindu Pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine was called off abruptly as the authorities warned of a terror threat and hotels, houseboats along Dal Lake were ordered shut.