Since 1990s, the valley has been balancing on such a thin wire, that even a single gush of wind misbalances the situations in J&K. We have seen this state burn since last 3 months over the Amaranth land restoration issue & the worst is still to come – the Partition. Kashmiris now often quote “Forget this land issue, we want Freedom”. Now I cannot understand what more freedom does Kashmir wants? In the past, India has seen many such issues from Nagaland, Punjab, Mizoram etc where state boundaries & demographic numbers was an issue & democracy came as a resolution in those times. But this Kashmir issue never ends.

It was in 1947, when Pakistan was carved out, Kashmiris decided to be with India. And I believe, even today it’s their right to decide as to whether they want to stay in INDIA or they want to be with Pakistan or they want to be an all together separate country? India – the world’s largest democracy – should give these people the right to choose their future. It’s time we straighten out this issue once in for all. But let’s ponder upon some points:
1)    Under Article 370 of our Constitution, with the exception of defence, foreign policy, and communication, no law enacted by parliament has any legitimacy in Kashmir unless the state government gives its consent.
2)    No state in India has constitutional laws specifically pertaining to it. Exception is J&K.
3)    PRESIDENT of INDIA cannot issue orders directly to J&K.
4)    Central Govt. spends over 9000 crore for the development of Kashmir (10 times more than what it spends on BIHAR)
5)    And add to this the income generated from the tourism department, the apple orchid exports etc.
6)    Heavy artillery & armed forces stay there to guard Kashmir & hence India.
Kashmir is like a pampered child of Mother India. It has always got what it wanted. Be it the money or be it laws. Now that it wants to separate out from India, I think they will have a difficult time standing in this fast paced World. I am sure, they would find it difficult to earn a few hundred crores, specially when they have a habit of getting a pocket money of a few thousand crores from the Indian Govt.
And as far as India is concerned, I don’t think that it will impact our economy to a great extent. Except that it’ll leave a dark spot in the Indian history. Parliament Blasts & many such terrorist activities have links to Kashmir, hundreds of soldiers have died on Kashmir border, the Kargil war was fought in Kashmir & the list goes on. Even then, I don’t know why India holding on to Kashmir if it doesn’t want to stay. One cannot force someone to stay with you. If they love you, they’ll be with you – ALWAYS. If Kashmiris love to be a part of INDIA, then they will remain a part of India (even after all these terrorist activities & sheltering Jihad masterminds etc).
All I can say is, the Govt. should stop giving preferences to a particular state, just to cache upon some votes. They have to consider of India as a whole. And as far as this separating out issue is concerned, let a democratic vote decide the future of Kashmir. Marching to LOC & burning a few cars won’t solve an issue. And again I can just say – THESE ISSUES WILL KEEP COMING UP IN THE FUTURE IF WE DON’T THROW AWAY THIS NOTION OF CASTE AND RELIGION FROM OUR MIND. CASTE IS PAST, LEARN TO LIVE IN THE PRESENT. WE ARE NOT MUSLIMS OR HINDUS OR JAINS, WE HAVE THE WORD INDIAN WRITTEN ON OUR OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
I’ll end this post with a few words from Vir Sanghvi -”This is India’s century. We have the world to conquer — and the means to do it. Kashmir is a 20th century problem. We cannot let it drag us down and bleed us as we assume our rightful place in the world. It’s time to think the unthinkable.”