STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: National Conference Provincial President, Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday cautioned against conspiracy being hatched by the BJP in connivance with PDP to dilute State Subject laws in a clandestine manner and under covert operations to weaken special status of the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
“BJP has unleashed a sinister and motivated disimformation campaign, especially in the Jammu region, to hoodwink public opinion by creating an impression that doing away with the State Subject laws will benefit the Dogras”, Rana said while addressing a day-long convention organised by NC ST Cell at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan this afternoon, adding that the Dogras will, on the contrary, be hurt the most.
Besides Co-Chairperson of the NC SC Cell, Vijay Lochan, former Minister Babu Jagjeevan Lal and former Legislators Dr Chaman Lal and Satpal Lakhotra were also present in the convention.
Rana said though the BJP is systematically working towards repealing these laws by whipping up passions on this sensitive issue yet they are conveniently concealing the facts, which compelled the visionary Maharaja Hari Singh to enact the State Subject laws in 1927 to safeguard the interests of people of the State from dominance of elite and affluent sections of non-state subjects, essentially from the neighbouring Punjab. He said enactment of these laws had not been sought either by the people of Kashmir or Ladakh but the Dogras of Jammu had legitimate apprehensions about wealthy businessmen from Punjab settling down in the region and shrinking their economy.
“The farsightedness shown by the Maharaja over nine decades ago is now being negated and exploited by the BJP, in its mistaken pursuit of ultra-nationalism”, he said.
Rana said that the coalition partners, PDP and BJP are in league to clandestinely repeal this constitutional guarantee, which is a legitimate provision to preserve the rights of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. In this context he referred to his resolution moved in the Legislative Assembly for taking effective legal, political and administrative steps to safeguard Article 35A of the Constitution of India, which was opposed by the ruling combination.
He said by virtue of the State Subject laws the people of the State, irrespective of caste, creed and cololur are having the comfort of roofs over their heads and jobs for unemployed youth. “Once this proviso is repealed, the opportunities for the state subjects will end permanently”, he said while urging the people to gear up for frustrating the anti-J and K policies of the PDP-BJP Government. He wondered why such voices are raised only in this state though several other states like Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Goa etc were also enjoying special and unique status under the ambit of Constitution of India.
Rana said that State Subject laws in Jammu and Kashmir were being made bone of contention just to satiate the communal agenda of BJP. “In this unholy pursuit, the PDP has volunteered to be a facilitator”, he said and warned that National Conference will not allow it to happen, as it will mean trampling of the constitutional guarantee held out to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Provincial President lamented that instead of engaging itself in constructive governance, the PDP-BJP coalition is pursuing with destructive policies and adding to the miseries of people. In this context, he referred to the plight of the 1947, 1965 and 1971 refugees of Pak occupied Jammu and Kashmir and said that against the recommendation of Rs 9,025 crore as one-time settlement, the BJP led NDA government at the Centre has released just Rs 2,000 crores. He said the NC led dispensation had formulated its recommendations after due survey and deliberations.
Lauding unflinching support of weaker sections to National Conference, Rana said the party is committed to welfare and prosperity of SC section of the society. In this context, he referred to the initiatives taken from time to time, dating back to the times of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah.
Vijay Lochan dwelt upon the activities of the SC Cell across the Jammu region and said that it will work towards achieving the larger objective of National Conference in strengthening the bonds of amity and brotherhood.
Jagjeevan Lal and Satpal Lakhotra also addressed the convention and highlighted various issues confronted to the SC community.
Among those present on the occasion included Simar Dass Provincial Secretary SC Cell, Som Raj Taroch Provencal Secretary SC Cell, Bishan Dass Bhagat, District President Jammu Rural-A, Charanjeet Bhagat District President Jammu Rural-B, Subash Azad District President Kathua, Buti Ram District Secretary Billawar, Fool Chand District Secretary Ramban, Raj Kumar District President Udhampur, Kuldeep Raj District Secretary Rajouri Rural, Suram Chand Secretary Ramnagar, Sansar Chand Provincial Joint Secretary and others.
