Two groups say Article 370 dilution disregards democracy

The dilution of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu andKashmir into two Union Territories have made two extremist groups in thenortheastern region come together and give a call to boycott the IndependenceDay celebrations on August 15. The two groups are the Coordination Committee,or CorCom, an umbrella organisation of six Manipur-based extremist outfits, andthe United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent, which formed the UnitedNational Liberation Front of Western South East Asia with several non-Manipurigroups in the region four years ago.

“The outrageous scrapping of Article 370 of the Indianconstitution and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir without the consent ofthe people of the State show India’s arrogance and blatant disregard fordemocratic principles,” the two groups said in a statement. “Shutting down ofthe State machinery and the house arrest of prominent leaders portend the kindof... policies that would be applied to the people of the northeastern regionas well. Freedom from India’s colonial yoke is the only way to save ourselvesfrom being swallowed by Hindustan,” the statement said.

‘Enhanced Hinduisation’

The two groups said the political control of India by theBJP has “enhanced the Hinduisation process rapidly”. The “Modi government isbent upon re-introducing” the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to forcibly “makethe northeastern region a part of the Hindutva empire,” they said.