STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Thursday cautioned against conspiracies being hatched, overtly and covertly, to trample the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by weakening Article 370 and Article 35-A.
“A most sinister and mischievous game is being played to hoodwink the public opinion in Jammu by generating a perception that dispensing of Permanent Resident Laws, enacted by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1927 will benefit the Dogras most”, Rana said while addressing one-day convention of the district and block functionaries of NC OBC Cell at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan this afternoon, organised by Co-Chairman Abdul Gani Teli.
He asked the perpetrators of such a vicious conspiracy to spell out to the people as to why the Maharaja was compelled to bring State Subject Laws and said the votaries of such a sinister move will have no answer to it. He said if the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are enjoying the comforts under their roofs, it is because of the historical and revolutionary Permanent Residence Act of 1927 enacted by the Maharaja and Land Reforms Act brought by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
The Provincial President said that State Subject laws serve as a steel frame to the interests of the people, Dogras in particular and repealing or weakening of this constitutional guarantee will pave the way for hegemony of affluent sections of business community and others over locals, who will find themselves subjugated politically, economically and even socially. “This was the apprehension and motivating factor for the Maharaja to bring State Subject laws and these were not on the asking of Kashmiris, as is being made out by reactionary forces like BJP”, he added.
Rana decried the BJP’s hypocrisy in raising hue and cry over sentimental issues like State Subject laws, saying they don’t speak a word against similar provisions being enjoyed by the people of Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Goa etc enjoyed special and unique status as per various sub sections (A to G) of Article 371. He lamented that Jammu and Kashmir was being singled out just to satiate the communal agenda of BJP. “In this unholy pursuit, the PDP had volunteered to be a facilitator in order to weaken Article 370 and 35A”, he said and cautioned 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. He said any attempt to weaken Article 35 A will be detrimental, not only to particular region or community, but the people of all faiths, regions and sub-regions of Jammu and Kashmir. He said National Conference will stand like a rock to safeguard the legitimate interests of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, irrespective of caste, creed, colour, region or religion. “Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist Unity has been and will always remain guiding force for us”, he added.
Responding to the issues pertaining to welfare of OBC’s, the Provincial President said that the party will fight for the cause being espoused by the Cell created in National Conference. He enumerated the initiatives taken for upliftment of these segments of society.
Former Minister, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari called for political empowerment of the weaker sections of society so that they can play their useful role in decision making at various levels.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustaffa Kamaal said that welfare of Other Backward Classes has remained top on the agenda of National Conference. He said while a Board was created with the post of Vice Chairman, having ministerial status, during the tenure of government headed by the NC, two per cent reservation for these segments of society had also been allocated.
