Independence Day in Kashmir, minus Kashmir
(WorldNews India)

The first Independence Day celebrations in Kashmir after the scrapping of the state´s special status had everything but Kashmir in it. The absence of the Kashmiri flavour from the official event in Srinagar reflected the popular anger at the amendment to Article 370 and challenged the government´s `all is well` narrative. It also made the words of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti - who had said that none in Kashmir would hold up the Tricolour any more if the article was abrogated - sound prophetic. Most Kashmiris have traditionally stayed away from Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations but till now, these events had some...