PAGD Adopts Fresh Resolution Demanding Restoration Of Special Status, Full Statehood
*Says Present Dispensation Sees Humiliation Of J&K’s People Its Pride*
Ubaid Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 24 (GNS): People’s Alliance for Gupkar Alliance on Tuesday adopted a fresh resolution, reiterating demand for restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A of the Indian constitution besides full statehood as existed before ruling BJP government at Centre split the erstwhile state into Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh on 5 August 2019.
Addressing reporters after the PAGD’s meeting attended by all constituents including National Conference and PDP, Alliance’s spokesman M Y Tarigami said that Article 370, Article 35A and J&K own constitution has been constitutional identity of the Jammu and Kashmir which was “taken away unconstitutionally”.
“Restoration of Article 370, Article 35A, own constitutions and complete statehood is our prime demand and basic agenda,” Tarigami, who was flanked by NC president Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti besides other leaders, said.
“Along with it, land law, domicile laws and tall claims were made and are being made about investments, development, employment and how true or false they are is before our nation,” he said as per GNS, adding,” These are just dreams and dreams don’t make for living and peoples’ lives cannot be made better.”
He said recent order barring people accused of stone pelting from government jobs and passport was illegal “given the fact that it was for judiciary to hold guilty or otherwise.”
He said that some people in Jammu used to feel that Kashmiri leadership’s role was not good for them. “Now see what has happened in Jammu. What happened to business there? How many jobs they got? So to Jammu and see what happened to their rights over land which they had got through fighting?”
He said with doing away of Darbar Move, the bi-annual shifting of government between two J&K capitals, a contact has been snapped.
“Its repercussions would be that business of local shopkeeper to top business will get affected.”
He said that top posts in administration and police are manned by people from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
“All top posts are held by people from outside. See all deputy commissioners, top police posts and other are kept by people from outside. Where would people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh go,” the PAGD spokesman said, adding, “This is humiliation. As far as PAGD is concerned, it is not acceptable.”
He said that “we attended the meeting convened by the Prime Minister of India and said that confidence building measures should be started.”
“We said that no space is left in jails in Jammu and Kashmir or outside. They are filled up with elderly, youth, boys, children and frail,” he said, adding, “They said that a review would be taken. Please tell us how many people have been released since that meeting.
Recently a person holding high office said that no political detainee is detained here. I am surprised. Recently a Raianwari youth was released after ten years jail in Gujarat. A youth from Lal Bazar or Ramban was also released by the court.”
He said do people have to wait for ten years on whom you carried NIA, CBI and other raids, accusing them of this or that.
“Attempts are being made at all levels to obliterate political leadership here and as if there are no persons without thieves here. This humiliation is not acceptable to us. This is not acceptable to PAGD,” he said, adding, “We will take issue suit before people of India, civil society, media houses and we also demand to the parliament of India to stop humiliation of people of J&K.”
Referring to permission of the PAGD to hold meeting, Tarigami said that attempts were made to disallow it and “small meeting is unbearable to the government.”
“We are not demanding anything new. We demand constitutional position. There are slanderous campaigns,” he said, adding, “History is testimony that voice of people has never stopped.”
He said people are not allowed to speak whether villages or urban areas. “We want to appeal people of India, civil society, media and others that we want to live with dignity. The present government has resolved to humiliate us and takes our humiliation as its pride, which is not acceptable to us. We have met to convey to our nation that we will continue to demand our right which stands guaranteed by the constitution.” (GNS)
