The overarching impression gained from a march from Jammu to Srinagar is that the people are hit hard by distress, a sense of betrayal, uncertainty, loss of rights, financial distress and lack of accountability on the part of the authorities.
“Jab har saans mein bandook dikhe toh baccha kaise bekhauf rahe”, remarked Anwar, a Gardner from Srinagar when asked about the situation in Kashmir. The special status of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked by articles 370 which provided special status to the state, and 35A, special rights and privileges to permanent residents of the state, without any consultation, on August 5, 2019. Civil society members from various states recently attempted a “restore democracy march” from Jammu to Srinagar. The Marchers were not allowed to interact freely with the press or local community in many places. The police stopped the march at Ramban, Midway between Jammu and Srinagar. Indeed a police vehicle followed us and ensure that we crossed the Ramban border district on way back to Jammu. Nevertheless , six of us continued our journey to Kashmir the following day from Jammu.
Even the government of India pushed an apparently discriminatory Act- the Citizenship (Amendment) Act- down our throats in December 2019, the sense of betrayal and alienation in Jammu and Kashmir, the poster child of subversion was haunting.