Dr. Asangba Tzudir
The year 2019 saw several tumultuous events which could be termed as ‘redefining events’ in the history of modern India. From revoking Jammu & Kashmir’s special status through abrogation of Article 370 to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), India witnessed stirring events, the memories of which will definitely reverberate the new year through.
In January 2019, right before the Lok Sabha elections, the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government brought the 124th Constitution Amendment Bill 2019, providing for people from ‘economically weaker sections’ to avail 10% reservation in government jobs and educational institutes. This cleared the decks for those in the general category with an annual income of up to Rs 8 lakh and not availing of any reservation to seek reservation. Because of its timing, many saw this move as being politically motivated to draw voters in favour of the ruling BJP. Even as views on economically weaker sections remain divided, candidates now have the option to avail reservation in government jobs and admission to educational institutions.
The Lok Sabha election of 2019 saw a historic mandate in favour of BJP securing a clear majority on its own. For the Congress, though it managed to win more seats than it did in 2014, Rahul Gandhi lost his family pocket Amethi to BJP’s Smriti Irani. As a consolation, he won the other seat from Wayanad in Kerala by a record margin. In the end, Narendra Modi returned as the prime minister with a bigger and stronger majority.
An event that shook the nation was the killing of 40 soldiers in the Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir on February 14 when a Indian military convoy was attacked by ‘terrorists.’ On February 26, India launched airstrikes in Pakistan’s Balakot, destroying a terror camp and eliminating several terror operatives. In retaliation, Pakistan sent across the border its F-16 fighter jets, one of which was shot down. In this operation, however, an Indian fighter pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was captured by Pakistani forces. The release of the officer after several rounds of negotiations only strengthened Indian diplomacy.
In what can be termed as unexpectedly shocking, the CBI arrested former finance minister P Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media money laundering case. His bail pleas were rejected and it was only after more than 3 months that he could leave Tihar jail. While both CBI and Enforcement Directorate alleged his financial misconduct during his time as the finance minister, the Congress party labelled the action plain vengeance on the part of the ruling BJP. In such cases of corruption charges, it plainly is a question of who holds power.
On August 5, 2019, true to its party election manifesto, Home Minister Amit Shah announced the scrapping of Article 370 of the Indian constitution, stripping the state of Jammu & Kashmir of its special status, and with it J&K ceased to exist as a state but split into two Union Territories - J&K with a legislature, and Ladakh without one. The Bill was cleared by both Houses of Parliament after heated debates drawing strong reactions, not only in India but also from international community. The residents of the affected region also opposed the move, and political leaders of Jammu & Kashmir were put under house arrest or detained. Article 144 was imposed along with shutting down of internet and telephone services. Life seems to be slowly returning to the ‘normalized condition’ within the new arrangement.
Finally, the passage of the CAB by both Houses of Parliament, followed by the President’s assent, led to widespread protests across the country. The Bill, now an Act, proposes to grant Indian citizenship to Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh and Christian minorities who took refuge in India after facing persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The requirement of having lived in the country for at least 11 years as eligibility criteria to apply for India’s citizenship has also been relaxed. The move has faced opposition from several quarters, over its allegedly discriminatory nature on religious lines. The protests against the Act turned violent following police action on students, mainly of the Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi. Students from several universities, as well as other groups, came to the streets which led to loss of lives and property. However, the issue is far from settled.
These defining events which can be labeled as India’s 2019 political events is not going to fizzle out easily, and the ripples especially of discontentment will continue even in the new year. Added to this, on the plane of thought, the current trend of such political events alone already presents a discomforting new year.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
