Two years after losing special status, how has Kashmir changed?

On Wednesday, August 11 at 19:30 GMT:
In 2019, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government claimed that revoking the Indian-administered Kashmir’s special status – and creating two federally controlled territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh – would allow the government to better administer development programmes in the economically struggling Himalayan region. Two years later they tout accomplishments like improved infrastructure and increased social development.

But journalists and activists say the economy, security and human rights situation for Kashmiris has worsened.

Following the special status revocation on August 5, 2019, New Delhi imposed a months-long security shutdown, blocked internet access, and imprisoned politicians, activists and separatists using anti-terrorism laws.

In addition to the change in autonomy, New Delhi scrapped another part of the constitution that limited land rights to Kashmiris – a move locals believe is aimed at shifting demographics in India’s only Muslim-majority state.

In this episode of The Stream, we’ll discuss current conditions in Indian-administered Kashmir and ask how the region is faring.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:
Hina Bhat, @drhinabhat @VcKvib
BJP member

Gowhar Geelani, @GowharGeelani 
Journalist

Siddiq Wahid, @SiddiqWahid 
Historian