Omar Abdullah, who is poised to take charge of Jammu and Kashmir, stated in an interview with the BBC that hoping for the return of Article 370 from those who stripped it away is “foolish.” He emphasized, “I have always said this over the past five years. It is naive to expect that the very people who took away Article 370 will return it to us.”

He expressed confidence that, “At some point, the government in the country will change. Eventually, a new government will come, one with which we can at least engage in dialogue.”

It is important to note that Prime Minister Modi’s government abrogated Article 370 in August 2019, which had granted Kashmir a semi-autonomous status along with special privileges. Following this abrogation, all central laws of India were enforced in Kashmir without the approval of the state assembly.

Referring to the Modi government, Abdullah stated, “They will not remain in power forever. Even the BJP acknowledges that they will not be in power indefinitely. Sooner or later, they will have to face defeat.” The BJP has secured 29 seats in the Jammu region, while the National Conference and Congress hold 48 seats in the 90-member assembly. However, Abdullah clarified, “This assembly is not what we deserve; it is a temporary assembly. Through this assembly, we will reach the assembly promised to us by the Prime Minister of this country.”

Abdullah asserted that Jammu and Kashmir would regain its status as a state, stating, “We are waiting for that.” He added, “The first resolution passed in the first cabinet meeting after the formation of the government should be to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.”

The National Conference has long supported dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir issue. This month, a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will take place in Pakistan, which Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will attend. However, he has made it clear that relations between Pakistan and India will not be discussed during this visit.

In response to a related question during the BBC interview, Abdullah remarked, “There will be no dialogue, but the Indian Foreign Minister is going to Pakistan. It’s a small beginning; just yesterday, he wasn’t even ready to go. It may be a small step, but it is in the right direction.”

Delhi, October 8, 2024: In an unusual incident at the Delhi High Court, a monkey caused quite a commotion by snatching a tiffin box from someone on the premises. The incident, initially seen as amusing, was captured on video and later shared on social media by Supreme Court Advocate Sanjay Hegde, where it went viral. The video shows the startled crowd attempting to retrieve the tiffin while the monkey, undeterred, casually enjoyed its meal.

While the event sparked laughter online, it also sparked a much deeper conversation about hunger, a universal experience shared by both humans and animals. “Hunger, whether felt by humans or animals, knows no boundaries,” one commenter reflected. “It has no religion, and yet we see divisions and hatred being fueled in the name of religion.”

This incident has brought to light a greater issue – why, in a world where hunger unites all living beings, are we divided by religion, hatred, and violence? “Everyone comes into this world empty-handed, and leaves empty-handed. All the wealth, property, and fame we amass will remain behind when we go,” another person commented on the viral post. The message resonated deeply, urging people to reflect on the futility of material gains and the importance of living with love and kindness toward one another.

With wildlife and human interactions on the rise, such incidents also highlight the pressing issue of habitat encroachment. The increasing frequency of animals venturing into urban areas, as seen with a recent viral video of a leopard roaming in Karnataka, raises concerns about the balance between nature and urban development. However, the Delhi High Court episode provided a lighter moment of reflection, reminding people that life, much like hunger, is a shared experience – and we must live it with compassion.