We in Jammu and Kashmir are living through politically dramatic times. This time, this theatre has been staged by National Conference, in the era of third -generation Abdullah, who is trying to set up a legacy of his own in these critical times for the territory, the people and the party.The June 3rd decision of the NC legislators- who met at Dachigam on the outskirts of Srinagar to stagea sit-in in New Delhi on the opening day of the monsoon session of the Parliament - to press for statehood to J&K and the attendant constitutional guarantees that were once an integral part of Kashmir’s perceived identity and dignity, has not come as a surprise. It had been in the air for quite some time.Now that the decision has been taken, it needs to be analysed how it translates into the Delhi-Srinagar relationship and within J&K itself.More importantly how it sits in the overall geopolitical and geostrategic matrix of the day.

The first is strategic: serving a reminder to the national leadership of the promises made in Parliament, the Supreme Court and public rallies is intended to tell the world that J&K knocksat the doors of Delhi alone out of trust and being integral part of India. This also conveys that Srinagar can handle its issues with Delhi on its own. 

The very word protest is extraneous. In fact, it should be read as an appeal to the Centre by the party that is in the government as it received........

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