Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the resolution to partially revoke Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. The move drew a slew of mixed reactions from various sections of society. While several were jubilant about the ‘end of the special status to the state’, many others called the move undemocratic and unconstitutional.
It also gave rise to opinions in favour of the decision and mocking at our Kashmiri brethren. As soon as the decision of revocation was made, an SMS, purportedly by a real estate company started doing the rounds. The SMS read, “Book your land at Kashmir Laal Chowk Rd from 11.25 Lacs with GST. Kashmir 370 removed. Limited stock!” Although the message was found out to be a fake one, it was enough to create the perception making the state a mere piece of land without any regards for its inhabitants.
What’s worse was people celebrating the government’s move thinking ‘they would now be able to get girls from Kashmir’.
A BJP MLA from Muzzaffarnagar district named Vikram Saini said, “The workers are very excited and those who are bachelors, they can get married there. There is no issue now. Earlier, there was a lot of atrocities on women. Muslim workers should celebrate here. Get married there to a fair Kashmiri girl. There should be celebrations.”
Nationalists: Win over Kashmiris.
Show them you care!BJP MLA VikramSaini: 𝗢.𝗞.
"..party workers are very excited there(Kashmir),those who are bachelor get them married thr I don't have any problem..
…I'm saying this to all Muslim-Hindu boys,go marry with WHITE GIRLS now…" pic.twitter.com/cOw1rnRi3M— Zainab Sikander (@zainabsikander) August 6, 2019
The BJP legislator’s video is doing the rounds on social media and have received condemnation too. Bollywood actor Richa Chadha condemned the remarks in a tweet and said that “Racist, sexist, sexually deprived dinosaurs are not extinct, but flourishing!”
Racist, sexist, sexually deprived dinosaurs are not extinct, but flourishing! Why are most of our leaders men that you wouldn’t even want to invite home for chai ? Cringe. Is liye jaana tha Kashmir? Shaadi to legal hi thi … ? https://t.co/oSlFl8ACv6 pic.twitter.com/e3pRjDFh1j
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) August 7, 2019
The Khatauli MLA’s comments once again exposed the sexist and misogynist attitude of those in power towards women. The remarks not just reduce women to mere objects or commodities to be acquired or conquered but also endorses the patriarchy.
To set the records straight, section 370 never forbade Kashmiri women from marrying a non-Kashmiri. So, it should be understood that the ‘Gori Kashmiri ladkiyan’ (fair-skinned Kashimi girls) were not bound by law, but in all its probability, it was a matter of choice.
Amit Shah in the speech on Article 370 said that it was anti-women. Also, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also spoke of how its revocation would empower Kashmiri women. It is time that this is implemented not just in words but in spirits.
Also Read: Is Scrapping Article 370 Through Presidential Order Constitutionally Valid?
