Arun Joshi

A legal challenge to Article 35A, which grants special rights and privileges to the hereditary permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, is seen as a political and demographic invasion of the Muslim-majority Kashmir. A variety of scenarios have been woven in which Muslims in this only Muslim-majority state in the country are seen as getting reduced to a minority. This scaremongering is designed to stir an agitation to rattle New Delhi.The Kashmiri Muslim leadership is convinced that New Delhi blesses those who have challenged the Article. This political science is a curious combination of presumed identity crisis and the threat of street agitation to keep India off Kashmir.The challengers, “We, the Citizens”, have pointed out that the discriminatory nature of this constitutional provision bars citizens of India living in the other parts of the country from owning immovable property and competing for jobs and scholarships in this state.The issue quickly gets linked to the “Kashmir dispute”. Ironically, the threat to set afire the streets in a “do or die” battle cry is to safeguard the special status of the state in the Indian union granted by the country’s Constitution.What happens in the Supreme Court is being prejudged and that is being used as a tool to set the streets on fire. Today the situation is that even if New Delhi signs a blank political cheque, it will bounce. The only way out for the Centre is to open talks and starts connecting the dots with Pakistan. It is a must to convert its challenges into opportunities.Pakistan’s Prime Minister-in-waiting Imran Khan has travelled widely in India as a cricketer. His bond with cricketers in India should help in renewing cricketing ties to begin with. Thereafter, there should be a sincere attempt to rediscover the commonalities that can benefit both India and Pakistan.India and Pakistan can have a clear-eyed and closer look at their shared heritage and travel together on the path to search for peace and prosperity in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Imran Khan have promised that. Now is the time to board the psychological bullet train to improve the ties.Many provinces on both sides of the border share linguistic, ethnic and cultural affinities that are much more pronounced than the hostilities that get highlighted by the self-serving western media.For example, Punjabis can make tough negotiations easy by conversing in their native language than top diplomats mindful of their knowledge of Queen’s English can ever do. It did happen in the 1990s when Punjabis from both sides were close to a remarkable breakthrough in removing the irritants. The two countries can surpass the trade benefits that America and Canada enjoy as trade partners. Strengthening the existing trade routes and exploring new ones offer a recipe to solve many crises between the two nations.Some of the prominent institutions, related to art, culture, language and journalism, were born in Lahore and are currently flourishing on the Indian side of Punjab. The celebration of their achievements could be a common affair. It will work wonders for the entire region, including J&K. Is anyone listening?