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All Indians should be treated equally

I read the report on Kashmir in Khaleej Times. The media in India and overseas is flooded with reports on Narendra Modi government's surprise move to revoke Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Kashmir no longer has a special status. There have been arguments and counter arguments justifying their stands, but if the people of Kashmir welcome the government's decision to give Kashmir the privileges that other states and union territories in the country enjoy, I think the matter should settle here.
Indians, in general, were aware of the special status given to the state but many were not aware of what this special status means. Several facts have now been revealed to the public on the status of Kashmir, and some of it are really surprising. If Kashmir is an integral part of India, why does the state have a separate flag? Why can't people in the other states buy land there? Why the infrastructure development in the state doesn't seem to be at par with other parts of the country? Why the youth in the state don't get proper education and facilities?
The ordinary Kashmiris have suffered under the administration of local politicians. Even though years of insurgency had serious impact on the state's development, the common people in the state should not be allowed to suffer anymore.
The Article 370 of the constitution conferring special status on Jammu and Kashmir was formulated by leaders decades ago. It doesn't mean that it cannot be altered, and now if the federal government wants to treat all Indians equally, irrespective of their caste, religion and territory, why not give our support to them? In a few years we might have a different future not only for Kashmiris, but for all Indians.
 -Ramachandran Nair, Muscat