Article 370 cannot be repealed without Constitutional amendment which has to follow after J&K Assembly passes a merger resolution by two thirds majority. The latter is not going to be esay and moves in this direction can lead to hardening of attitudes and increased militant activities in the Valley. But yes a discussion can be initiated.

It is interesting what you are saying. But how does repealing 370 mean merger is complete. The terms of conditional merger still stand.The Maharaja is replaced by the Assembly just as the British were replaced by the Parliament. So any change in original terms has to have a two thirds majority support of J&k assembly , otherwise it is unilateral and can be resisted by Kashmiris. Is my interpretation correct, i wonder.

It is interesting what you are saying. But how does repealing 370 mean merger is complete. The terms of conditional merger still stand.The Maharaja is replaced by the Assembly just as the British were replaced by the Parliament. So any change in original terms has to have a two thirds majority support of J&k assembly , otherwise it is unilateral and can be resisted by Kashmiris. Is my interpretation correct, i wonder.

The article 370 has nothing to do with merger. Merger was already complete when Maharaja and Lord Mountbatten signed the treaty. Article 370 was introduced later and this simply defines the relation between Union and the state of J & K. Owing to special circumstances, more autonomy has been given to the state of J & K. Merger treaty makes J & K integral part of India. even the constitution of the state assembly says so. According to article 370, parliament cannot make law on matters within jurisdiction of state assembly and state assembly also has no jurisdiction on matters on which parliament has juridiction. Repeal of Article 370 is outside the jurisdiction of state assembly.

If true it does show that there was no unanimity on Article 370 even when it was being framed. However these days there is a school of thought which tries to lay blame on everything wrong on Nehru and show Patel and others in good light. When a team takes a decision, then individual members cannot later on disassociate from it to escape responsibility . Similarly vested interests will try to create a divide but the responsibility still remains. If those who are now sought to be portrayed as having kept quiet or cooperated under force had shown courage and resigned perhaps we would not be having this problem today. This is also a part of a new ideology taking hold.