Mir, Gul and other ruling party MLAs demand restoration of Statehood
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 4: As the ruling National Conference and Congress MLAs accused the Central Government of ‘un-democratically’ snatching J&K’s special status, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma strongly defended deletion of “bad provisions” in Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
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“How could you term it undemocratic when it was passed by Parliament of India, the supreme body in a democracy for taking such decisions,” he said while participating in Motion of Thanks on Lt Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly, here today.
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Alleging that NC-Congress combine was un-necessarily attempting to make an issue out of no issue, Sham Lal Sharma said that Article 370 was very much there in the Constitution and only its `bad provisions’ had been excluded.
He also reminded that in 1981 Budget Session of J&K Assembly, Congress MLA Dharampal Sharma had moved a resolution and then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohd Abdullah had said on record of the House that relevance of special status to J&K had ended.
In retaliation to Congress MLA G A Mir’s allegation, during his address, that BJP Government did not follow due procedure of Parliament Business while abrogating special status of J&K, Sharma sought to know how Article 35-A was included in the Constitution.
Pertinent to mention that Article 35-A, revoked by Modi Government in 2019, was included in the Indian Constitution through a Presidential order in 1954 by then Government of Jawahar Lal Nehru, without bringing it through a Parliamentary amendment.
Alleging that ruling party praising erstwhile Dogra Maharajas was just an attempt of playing to the gallery without conviction, Sham Lal Sharma reminded that it was National Conference which had launched `Quit Kashmir’ movement against the most secular Maharaja Hari Singh.
“Maharaja Gulab Singh and General Zorawar Singh extended boundaries of J&K to Lahasa in Tibet while Dogra rule was best in all terms despite being monarchy, but there is no mention of their achievements in school curriculum,” he said.
Charging NC Government with failure to fulfil the promises made in its election manifesto, the BJP MLA and former Minister asked the ruling dispensation to be pro-active and ensure that governance percolates at grassroots level.
“We will play role of constructive opposition and make Government as well as bureaucracy accountable. Chief Minister should clarify on mismatch between Vision Document (NC manifesto) and Lt Governor’s address,” he said and stressed for collective efforts to strengthen the institution of legislature.
Earlier, the Assembly started the discussion on Motion of Thanks on Lt Governor’s address, tabled by Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather before the House. The motion moved by Mubarak Gul, Chief Whip of NC, was seconded by Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Congress.
Speaking during the Motion of Thanks, Mubarak Gul called for restoration of Statehood to J&K and also vouched for restarting Darbar Move practice.
“Restoration of Statehood for Jammu and Kashmir is our right,” he said and listed the efforts being made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for the Statehood.
In an apparent reference to BJP, the NC MLA said that those talking of trifurcation were enemies of J&K. “We have example of division of the country between India and Pakistan and consequent sufferings of people,” he said.
Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Congress, during his address on Motion of Thanks, stressed that Prime minster should fulfil his promise during the all party meeting with J&K leaders, that after delimitation and Assembly elections, Statehood would be restored.
He also alleged that the Central Government did not follow due procedure of the Parliament business in abrogating special status of J&K. “Even as Parliament has authority to bring amendments, the development of August 5,2019 was unconstitutional as no due procedure was adopted for re-organization of J&K State,” he said and claimed that earlier Congress Governments always followed Constitutional procedure for bringing any amendment.
The Congress MLA also demanded that Caste Census should be conducted in Jammu and Kashmir.
NC’s Sajad Ahmad Shaheen, in his address, appreciated the Government for presenting a holistic roadmap for the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Drawing attention towards the difficulties and issues being faced by people in remote areas, he called for development of healthcare facilities as well as Educational infrastructure in his constituency. He also demanded a package for the people affected by Railway and National Highway projects in Banihal.
He enjoined upon all legislators to work collectively for the restoration of the Statehood as downgrading a State into Union Territory was injustice with people of J&K.
Farooq Ahmad Shah of NC, in his address, said that all have to maintain dignity of the House and work for the welfare of people. He also called for framing of a policy to further promote sustainable tourism in Gulmarg, Industrial growth as well as creating employment avenues for the youth.
Seeking restoration of Statehood to J&K, he said that Lt Governor should use his good office to get this demand fulfilled as early as possible. He also demanded filling up all vacant posts in various Government departments in a time bound manner and framing a mining policy for employment to locals.
MLA Bani, Dr Rameshwar Singh, in his address during the Motion of Thanks, alleged no development in the last 10 years and accused the J&K administration of failing to implement even the promises of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
He cited the example of a minor girl, who had raised concerns about the lack of a school building in her area and PM Modi acknowledged it in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program with a promise that a school would be built.
“Even after two years, that school is still a distant dream. It has not been constructed yet,” he said, adding that if the administration can ignore a promise made by the PM himself, what hope the common man could have.
The MLA also alleged that despite Lt Governor’s announcement of constructing a bridge on river in Bani after a few people drowned there two years back, no action was taken.
Demanding that the Government should frame a policy for the regularization of NRHM employees, he also called for creating job opportunities for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, besides timely action against illegal mining activities.
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