In a rebuttal to The Lancet’s editorial titled "Fear and Uncertainty Around Kashmir’s Future," the Indian Medical Association or IMA has issued a strongly-worded letter decrying the “credibility” of the editorial. The editorial expresses concerns for the escalating mental health crises in Kashmir amidst the ongoing tensions around the abrogation of Article 370.  In the letter, IMA argues that The Lancet, a British medical journal, has no “locus standii” on the Kashmir issue, especially since the political turmoil in the area is a “legacy that the British Empire left behind.” Kashmir Turmoil: What Article 370 And Article 35A Say About J&K And Its Accession to India.

The original write-up by Lancet was published on August 17, 2019, days after Article 370 was abrogated in Kashmir. It discussed rising instances of anxiety, depression and PTSD among Kashmiris, especially after the lockdown imposed in the Valley.

It mentions a Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) study of two rural districts in rural Kashmir affected by the conflict. It stated that nearly half of Kashmiris never felt safe, having lost a family member to violence or witnessing violence first hand. Jammu and Kashmir Loses Privileges Under Article 370, Article 35A: What Does it Mean For Kashmiris and Other Indians?

The editorial says that despite decades of political instability in the area, Kashmir “is doing well compared with the rest of India.” The article, however, points out that the turmoil in the region has precipitated mental health crises.

Incensed by the article, the IMA directed a letter to Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of the prestigious medical journal, citing a “malafide intention” which amounts to “interference into an internal matter of Union of India.”

The letter was shared by the Twitter handle of Indian Medical Association on August 19, 2019, just two days after the Lancet editorial was published.

Here is IMA's Letter:

The letter blames the reputed medical journal for committing a breach of trust by commenting on the political issue after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The letter says: “The Lancet has reacted to an internal administrative decision of Government of India under the garb of concern for the health of Kashmiris.”

The issue comes in the wake of the scrapping of Article 370 in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. On August 5, 2019, the Indian government took the momentous step of abolishing the article that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2019 06:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).