Govt gets wiggle room in Kashmir, but it may not be enough for calm

Foreign diplomats' visit and Supreme Court ruling may give government ways to create some semblance of a return to 'normalcy' in Jammu and Kashmir.

Three developments indicate that the gridlock in Jammu and Kashmir may be loosening. These include the visit of foreign diplomats to J&K, the ruling of the Supreme Court criticising both the indefinite internet restrictions and the misuse of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to prevent expression of dissent. A third indicator is the meeting between eight former legislators and Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu demanding restoration of statehood to J&K.

Together they suggest that the Modi government may be looking for ways to create some semblance of a return to ‘normalcy’ in J&K.

The most significant aspect