Says Art- 370 And 35-A Gave Only Separatism, Militancy; Corruption To J&K
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s dream of integrating Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country.
“I believe Dr. Mookerjee’s arrival in Jammu and Kashmir, 68 years ago, in May 1953, was the first Swadeshi movement of the country after independence. And today his Tapobhoomi is illuminated with development as his dream turned into reality many years after his arrival,” Sinha said on Tuesday, as per an official spokesperson.
He made these remarks while addressing a National Webinar organised by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) to mark the birth anniversary celebrations of Syama Prasad Mookerjee as part of ‘Azaadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’, here at Raj Bhavan.
“I strongly believe that national integration is the first step in the development of citizens and Dr. Mookerjee knew that this unity was incomplete without the complete integration of J&K with rest of the country. Due to Article 370, constitutional reforms and hundreds of acts which would have been helpful in raising the quality of life of people and bringing a surge of development in the region were not implemented in J&K,” he added.
The LG, as per the official spokesperson further said that the lamp which Mookerjee had lit with the “supreme sacrifice of his life” for the unity of the country, empowering the deprived people, ending discrimination, establishing social equality, harmony, and development, has brought a new dawn in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Steadfastly working to realize the goal of “Ek Vidhaan, Ek Pradhaan, Ek Nishaan”, Dr. Mookerjee’s struggle in J&K was a revolution and he sacrificed his life while fighting for it. His actions and words had brought a possibility of revolution and change. He wanted to see Jammu and Kashmir like other states of India, with same rights to the people in Jammu and Kashmir, which were enjoyed in the rest of India,” the LG said.
He also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for fulfilling Mookerjee’s dream on August 5, 2019, leading to the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the country.
“The deprived classes who served Jammu and Kashmir since 1957 were not given Permanent Resident Certificate. The West Pakistani refugee and Gurkha community were denied their rights,” Sinha said, as per the official spokesperson, adding that the Article 370 and 35A gave only separatism, militancy, nepotism and large scale corruption to J&K.
“There was not a single provision in it that would connect J&K to the mainstream development,” he said.
The official spokesperson also said that the LG asserted that Article 370 also recalled that the Indian flag would be flown only on two occasions but today, the flag of India is being hoisted proudly on every government building of Jammu and Kashmir, in every school. All 890 central laws are now applicable here.
“The rule of only a handful didn’t give leadership opportunities to any young citizen of Jammu and Kashmir, but today the youth of J&K are not only making successful political debut but are also marching towards development”, Sinha said, as per official spokesperson.
The LG, he said also maintained that it was the only region in the country where there was no Minority Commission, no law to stop child marriage, no Forest Rights Act, no reservation for the poor sections, and Right to Education Act was not implemented. The three-tier Panchayati Raj system was not allowed to be implemented, but last year the 73rd and 74th Amendments have led to successful, fair and violence-free elections for DDCs. Under the guise of 370, people did not allow any industry to come up in J&K for seven decades.
Sinha said that the views of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s on J&K issue, relations with neighboring countries and reforms in elections were like the fragrance of spirituality in Indian politics.
“Being a spiritual- politician in this country was not easy but Dr. Mookerjee came to the land of Jammu and Kashmir with full strength and courage and changed its history forever”, official spokesperson quoted the LG as saying.
As per the spokesperson, the LG said that today, if J&K is moving ahead on the path of development, then it is only because of two personalities, one Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and the other is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“I bow down to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee for their steadfast efforts, amazing valor and supreme sacrifice to get justice. And today Jammu and Kashmir has been fully integrated with India and taking along the crown jewel of India, we have to move forward for the development of the country with full faith, determination”, concluded the LG.
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