Rescinding J&K’s constitutional status flagrant violation of justice: Dr Kamal

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday criticized the ruling dispensation at the centre for not upholding constitutional principles, saying rescinding of Jammu and Kashmir’s Constitutional status was a marked and flagrant violation of equity and justice.

The manner in which the constitution and constitutional propriety are discarded by the ruling dispensation reveals the aversion the ruling dispensation nurtures for the country’s constitution, said Party’s Additional General Secretary Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamal. He said the way ruling dispensation is negating the essence of the constitution in passing and introducing new laws in the parliament proves its malafide interests.

“Rescinding of J&K’s status, downgragrading it from a fully empowered state to an overly centralized UT is reminiscent of a dictatorial set up that sees federation as an obstacle to a strong homogeneous and unitary state with little to no consideration for people’s political, developmental aspirations of people in Jammu and Kashmir. The one size fits all is the star attraction of New Delhi’s new democratic project in the region ignoring local development needs. India is too vast a country to be ruled by a unitary style of government. The development needs vary from region to region, therefore a one size fits all policy undervalues the diversity of the country. Unfortunately Jammu and Kashmir has been the first casualty of the flattening of constitution in a calculated manner and the flagrant violation of equity and justice are central to the constitution drafted by Baba Sahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar,” he said.

Mr Kamal said the consequences of undermining the constitution and not trusting the people of J&K with basic rights would not augur well for the prized freedom, stability and strength of our country. And for a troubled region of Jammu and Kashmir, the new project will prove more destructive on account of it being clubbed in a hostile neighborhood. Having such a project in place in Jammu and Kashmir will fester more alienation in the people especially the youth. Of late New Delhi seems to have started taking corrections vis-à-vis Jammu and Kashmir. The first step in the direction was the DGMO level talks followed by IWT parleys. The other day trade has also picked up to some extent. The need of the hour is to amplify efforts to weed out the mistrust that has been plaguing relations between India and Pakistan. However, such correctives also need to be taken internally also by giving a sense of entitlement and empowerment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by trusting them with a fully empowered state and a fully empowered government. Having a brigade of unrelated officials at the helm of affairs will only push the region to chaos. Last but not least, the relation between Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country should correspond with the idealism surrounding the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with the union of India.” He said.

Alluding to the remarks made by BJP Vice President Venkayah Naidu at IIM, Jammu wherein he had stated that no external interference was needed to solve the problems in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and that the UT is an integral part of India. It is quite understandable why New Delhi doesn’t want external inference despite the fact that the Shimla Agreement, Tashkent accord, Agra Summit and other other agreements debunk such a claim. The presence of UNMOGIP in Jammu and Kashmir also refutes the claim of Mr. Naidu, who I believe should not have discussed politics at an academic institution. It seems that the new project of New Delhi in J&K has nothing to do with its people, the only thing they want to do is to capture the land. He said the people of J&K are yearning to see the realization of promises made by New Delhi to the people of Jammu and Kashmir from time to time in the form of various agreements. The realization of catch words of successive PMs like “Sky is the limit”, “Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat” are yet to see the light of the day, he added.