Sakina Itoo Reaffirms Restoration of Article 370 as Ultimate Goal Amid Rising Indian High-Handedness in IIOJK

The recent bold statements by Education Minister Sakina Itoo have once again exposed the authoritarian tactics of the Indian administration in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking during a protest demonstration in Srinagar, the senior National Conference leader declared that the full restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A remains the ultimate goal of her party and the local population. She asserted that every passing day serves as a day of continuous peaceful protest until constitutional rights are returned. Her strong remarks reflect widespread public anger over forced political changes imposed by New Delhi. The minister also exposed clear administrative double standards, highlighting how security forces placed roadblocks against opposition protestors while allowing ruling party activists total freedom to march through central Srinagar.

Unilateral Cancellation of Article 370 Stripped Kashmir of Its Heritage and Legal Autonomy

On August 5 2019 the Indian parliament forcefully revoked Article 370 and Article 35A without consulting local citizens or elected state representatives. Article 370 provided a legal shield that allowed Jammu and Kashmir its own state constitution, regional flag, and exclusive control over internal governance matters. Article 35A protected indigenous populations by reserving property ownership, public employment, and higher education seats strictly for permanent state residents. By abolishing these fundamental provisions in one sudden executive decree, India destroyed over seven decades of constitutional guarantees overnight. The historic state was stripped of its dignity and divided into two union territories governed directly by New Delhi through military force and administrative control.

Economic Destruction and Systematic Financial Loss Across Local Kashmir Businesses

The unilateral actions of August 2019 triggered unprecedented financial ruin across every key sector of the regional economy. Estimates from the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry showed that local trade suffered staggering losses exceeding five billion dollars in less than eight months. Long security lockdowns and extended internet blackouts ruined normal commercial activities, daily market operations, and regional supply chains. The vital horticulture sector, which supports four million local livelihoods and yields over two million metric tons of fresh apples annually, faced massive transportation delays at military checkpoints. Daily wage earners, transport operators, and small shopkeepers lost their daily income, driving thousands of families into severe financial distress.

Forced Domicile Laws Designed to Alter Demographics and Seize Indigenous Kashmir Property

A primary goal of the current central administration involves changing the population structure of the valley to reduce the native majority into an powerless minority. Under newly introduced domicile rules, non residents who lived in the territory for fifteen years or studied for seven years can easily obtain local citizenship papers. Official reports confirm that hundreds of thousands of domicile certificates were rapidly issued to non locals during the initial two years of these legislative changes. With property protections under Article 35A eliminated, outside buyers can now purchase local land and claim administrative positions. Citizens strongly fear these legislative updates will erase their distinct identity and displace native populations from their ancestral homes.

Brutal Suppression of Free Speech and Systematic Destruction of Opposition Space

The sharp statements from Sakina Itoo regarding biased administrative restrictions underline how democratic rights are being crushed across the occupied territory. Security agencies routinely ban political rallies, peaceful marches, and civil society gatherings organized by local opposition parties. Independent rights organizations report that thousands of political leaders, youth, and civil society workers were detained under harsh laws like the Public Safety Act without formal trial. While local political activists face constant police raids, surveillance, and wrongful detentions, ruling party members enjoy state protection and full freedom to conduct rallies. This systemic bias proves that local democratic institutions are being intentionally dismantled to silence legitimate political opposition.

Unchecked Military Control and Daily Human Rights Violations Across Local Neighborhoods

The constant presence of heavily armed security forces in civilian areas has turned daily life into an ongoing nightmare for ordinary residents. Daily routines are frequently interrupted by surprise search operations, sudden road closures, aggressive questioning, and heavy surveillance at local checkpoints. International observers including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly raised severe concerns over human rights violations, wrongful detentions, and strict military enforcement. Fundamental freedoms including freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and press freedom have been effectively abolished by central state authorities. Citizens live under constant fear of arrest simply for expressing political views or reporting ground realities on digital platforms.

Exposing Staged Normalcy Claims and the Persistence of Public Resistance

The Indian government consistently attempts to paint a false picture of peace and economic development to deceive the international community. However, actual ground realities completely contradict these official claims as public anger continues to grow under intense military repression. Minister Sakina Itoo accurately voiced public sentiment by emphasizing that the demand for Article 370 is a unified collective movement supported by the entire population. International bodies including the United Nations Human Rights Office have repeatedly demanded an end to state violence and called for the protection of basic civilian liberties. Lasting peace can never be built through forced military occupation, artificial legal changes, or suppression of public movement.

Restoration of Constitutional Rights and Respect for Public Will as the Only Pathway Forward

The firm stance taken by Sakina Itoo serves as a clear reminder that state oppression cannot erase the deeply rooted human desire for freedom and political dignity. The central administration must realize that suppressing local voices through police force and selective bans will only deepen regional instability and resentment. Achieving genuine stability requires an immediate halt to state high handedness, human rights violations, and administrative bias targeting ordinary civilians. True peace will only return when New Delhi respects the collective will of the people, restores statehood, and returns the full constitutional safeguards stolen from the region. The peaceful struggle for justice, dignity, and rights will continue until complete constitutional status is fully restored.