Srinagar: Two years after the abrogation of Article 370 by the Government of India, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) questioned the GoI’s move, saying what has been achieved in the last two years.
The PAGD spokesman Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said “August 05 marks the completion of two years since the unprecedented assault on the constitution of India was taken to nullify Article 370 of the constitution- thereby damaging the very bond of our relationship with the union of India.”
“By demolishing the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir by the GoI, it has crossed all the limits of constitutionality,” he said.
He said that downgrading historic state of Jammu and Kashmir and dividing it into two separate Union territories without the consent of the people and also ignoring the resolution adopted by JK legislature on 03 March 2004 to preserve the unity and the secular character of Jammu and Kashmir state, has set a precedent that any state can cease to exist as a state and can be carved up into any number of fragments any time, by placing it under Governors Rule.
Thereby the very existence of a state becomes a matter of central discretion, a substantial step towards a unitary state, the PAGD spokesman said.
Tarigami added that the abrogation of Article 35 A made the status of permanent residents redundant. “Protection of jobs and land rights was removed arbitrarily, which deepened the alienation and sense of insecurity in all the regions. The economy of JK has virtually collapsed as tourism, trade agriculture, horticulture, and Handicraft sectors were badly hit,” he said.
He added that employment opportunities are shrinking. “Is Corruption any less and Governance any better? The fact remains not a single claim stands the test of scrutiny,” he said.
“A process of throttling of democracy and democratic rights was initiated. The clampdown and continuous restrictions on the movement and association of the people and gagging the media has resulted in forced silence,” he said.
The PAGD spokesman said that over the last two years it has become amply clear why the GoI was so insistent on taking such drastic unlawful measures during these two years we have seen that people of JK are being ripped apart into smaller units, ripped off their jobs and rights over the natural resources that are theirs.
Unconscionable suppression of civil and democratic rights continues unabated, he said, adding that indiscriminate arrests and harassment of all sections of people including employees on different pretexts continues and issuing dictates like the recent one not to provide clearance for passport and government services to anyone involved in “law and order and stone-pelting cases” is one more addition.
“Adverse police report cannot be a substitute for being found guilty in a court of law. This amounts to a violation of the most sacred principles of the justice system,” PAGD spokesman said, adding that the “hoax of BJP’s Naya Kashmir is a joke now”.
“The people have started questioning those in authority as to what they have achieved by destroying Naya Kashmir which came into being through the protracted historic struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. And empowered the people of all the regions and communities with dignity by liberating them from the shackles of authoritarian monarchy and ruthless feudalism,” the statement added.
“It was hoped that the Govt of India would realize the futility of its decisions viz-a-viz August 05 2019. The recent participation of J&K leaders with the PM was a leap of faith on that hope but none of the measures required to begin rebuilding the shattered confidence of the people of J&K has been taken,” he said.
“JK remains as far from Delhi and from the Dil/heart of India as it has ever been. Rather the distances are further widening and disheartening is deepening.”
“We earnestly appeal to all sections of our people in each region and community to remain united and not to fall prey to the false and slanderous campaigns and divisive attempts aiming at dividing and disarming our people. We are sure that at this time of serious crises, we shall not succumb but continue our struggle in defense of our rights using every opportunity through peaceful and legal means,” the statement added.
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