Agenda: Removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir
The abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in August 2019 marked a pivotal moment in India's constitutional history. This article, which granted special status to the region of J&K, was seen by some as a barrier to its full integration with the Indian Union. By removing Article 370, the Indian government aimed to foster greater economic development, improve governance, and enhance security in the region. However, the move was met with mixed reactions, with proponents lauding it as a step towards national unity and critics decrying it as a violation of the state’s autonomy. The bifurcation of the state into two union territories further underscored the complexities surrounding the issue. Delegates will step into the shoes of lawmakers from both the centre and the state along with the opposition; planning to analyse the effects of the abrogation of article 370 on the region, its subsequently divided union territories, and the nation as a whole. This issue continues to provoke debate and shape the socio-political landscape of J&K and India as a whole.