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| CPI-M bats for regional autonomy, Article 370 | | Return to pre-1953 status not feasible | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 11: The CPI-M, which has its support-base limited to parts of Kulgam Assembly constituency, has batted for regional autonomy and demanded restoration of Article 370 to its original position," saying these two steps are of paramount importance and in the best interest of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. These steps "will lead to the unity of three distinct regions of the state," it has also said. Actually, these are the views Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami expressed in Jammu the other day during the party's meeting.
Tarigami was right when he acknowledged that the State of Jammu & Kashmir consists of three distinct regions and batted for regional autonomy. It is an established fact that the political aspirations of the people of Jammu and Ladakh are different from those of Kashmiri leaders of all hues. The people of Jammu feel, and rightly, that they have never got what was their due in the state's political, economic and social processes and that the Kashmiri leadership instead of appreciating their political aspirations has all along tried to impose its will on them. It is also an established fact that the people of these two regions have consistently fought against what they call the Kashmiri domination over the state's polity and held the view that the state constitution is Kashmir-centric. But more than that, it is also an established fact that the people of these two regions have been demanding separation from Kashmir on the ground that they have nothing in common with the Kashmiri leadership and the best way to harmonize inter-regional relations is the reform that enables the people of each of the three regions masters of their own house within India and under the Indian Constitution. Hence, it would be only appropriate if autonomy is granted to the three distinct regions. Let there be three regional councils invested with adequate legislative, executive and financial powers. Such a step will surely end the prevailing unrest in Jammu and Ladakh and also help promote sound politics in the Valley based on democratic and economic issues. Tarigami's regional autonomy suggestion needs to be commended.
However, the demand of the CPI-M that Article 370 should be restored to its original position is fraught with dangerous ramifications. Its demand, if accepted, would mean withdrawal of all the central laws and central institutions extended to the state after August 9, 1953 and a just a step short of complete independence from India. It would also mean the reestablishment of a local oligarchy in which the ruling elite would have extraordinary legislative, judicial and executive powers and the general population would have no say whatsoever in the governance of the state. It would also mean imposition of wartime-like restrictions on the media.
Not only this, it would also mean the restoration of the obnoxious permit system and a great victory of those who believe in two-nation theory and separatists and communalists in Kashmir. The CPI-M must understand that the people of Jammu and Ladakh are vehemently opposed to any such demand that drives the state away from the national mainstream and further widen the already rather wide gulf between the state and Delhi.
It would be better if it eschews any such demand and work for a reform that brings the state closer to India then ever before. The bottom-line is that while grant of autonomy to the regions is the need of the time, the demand for the restoration of pre-1953 position is not feasible. |
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