Heap privilege, reap secessionism - Early Times Newspaper Jammu Kashmir

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Heap privilege, reap secessionism

Omkar Dattatray

4/16/2018 10:03:40 PM

No more powers, concessions, prerogatives, perks and privileges please! The trouble which J&K is facing from the last three decades can to a great extent be attributed to these fine adjectives or in plain terms to the special status of the state. The unique position of the state has been exploited by the enemies within and without. The Pak sponsored terrorism in J&K has got nourishment by this separate identity. The leaders of this nation squarely blaming Pakistan for all trouble over here cannot be faulted. But at the same time it is the weaknesses, loopholes and special status of the state within which has played no less a role in engerineering the seeds of fundamentalism, separatism and terrorism. The regional chauvinists within and the cunning enemy outside has sustained hate India campaign on the special identity and power of the state. The unique dispensation has given unbridled powers as per much talked about and controversial article 370 of the Indian constitution. This state enjoys more powers than any of the federating units of the Indian union. The state is already overburdened with special powers and status. Hence heaping further privileges and specialties to this special state will be a step towards strengthening anti India feelings and emotions. It will in the ultimate analysis further generate and nurse the secessionist and separatist feelings and tendencies. So no further powers are piled upon the already stored house of powers which the rulers of this state enjoy because of its Muslim majority character. In fact, the genesis of all terrorism and separatism is this special provision and status (read enviable position) granted to this sensitive state. It has become the breeding ground for all terrorism and anti India venom. It is these special powers which make the state accession with the Indian union suspicious and questionable. It had made the state susceptible to Pak machinations of fundamentalism and terrorism. The special powers granted by the virtue of temporary article 370 should have been done away with. But the irony is that rulers of Indian nation have never bothered to integrate this border state with Indian union fully by abrogating the transitory article 370. Besides this special provision article 35 A also bestows specialty to this state. All political parties in the state have exploited the sentiments and emotions of the kashmiris to the hilt under the so called pretext of the erosion of the special identity of the state. The fact remains that the state possesses absolute powers in accordance with constitution and law. It is this state only which has got its own constitution, a separate flag and even a distinct and separate national anthem. The people of this state have got more than adequate rights and privileges both under the Indian constitution and the state's own constitution. In all earnestness it is the writ of the state's political masters which prevails upon the state. The citizenry of this extraordinary state do posses extraordinary concessions and have been showered extraordinary benefits simplify because of its muslim majority character. One wonders that the advocates of abrogation of special status are mute and are hand in glove with state's rulers to bestow further special powers to the state. It is a matter of disgust and surprise that the wizards of the greater and full integration of the state with Indian union are favoring special powers to the state because of its special position. Earlier on the one hand they have rejected NC governments' autonomy resolution but on the other hand are advocating the devolution of more powers to J&K only. Such moves are preposterous and a brazen discrimination with other Indian states. One may argue that earlier it was to placate Dr. Farooq Abdullah. But its repercussions will be dangerous for the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. The centre should constitute a committee of parliamentarians for discussing devolution of more powers to all federating units of India. Then why to single J&K for this purpose? It means government of India is succumbing to the pressures of the Mufti dispensation. BJP led NDA government should not take any such step in haste simplify because of eye on elections. So nothing should be done which will further alienate the people of J&K from India. There is no erosion of special identity and autonomy. What is badly required is proper utilization of plan and non plan funds for state's development and employment generation. The immediate need is to make rulers of this state answerable, accountable and responsible to the people for their acts. All powers and no accountability is the basic cause of unrest. It has been generated by the unbridled and absolute powers given to the rulers of this state. The so called aspirations of Kashmiri's, their special identity and autonomy plan as well as Mehboba Mufti's self rule plan are only political slogans and gimmicks to mislead the people and continue to rule. Don't the people of this state have the right to vote, right to freedom of religion, right to speak, cultural and educational rights and all other rights which other respectful citizens of the India possess. This state needs Supreme Court, election commission of India, comptroller and auditor general of India much more than any other state of the Indian union. The state needs investment and industry, trade and business to which article 370 and special position thereof is an inhibition. Enough inflow of private investment will come if the superficial walls of distance and suspicion created by special status will be brought down. And if you pile further unnecessary powers and privileges upon the already special edifice of the state, you will be helping the enemy indirectly and it will ultimately lead to separatist and fissiparous tendencies.

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