EX minister Altaf Bukhari leads delegation of eight former legislators, seeks statehood, release of detains, protection of land, job rights, internet restoration
Srinagar, Jan 07 : In a significant development, former minister of J&K Syed Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday led the delegation of eight former legislators and submitted a detailed memorandum to Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandera Murmu.
The delegation, a possible third-front, sought statehood status to J&K and demanded release of prisoners and protection of land, job rights.
According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the memorandum submitted by the delegation states that “we take this opportunity to solicit your attention towards the socio-political and economic situation that emerged since August 5, 2019 (Nullification of Article 370 and reorganization of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir).”
The other members besides Bukhari include Ghulam Hassan Mir (President Democratic Party Nationalist), Mohammad Dilawar Mir (Former Minister), Zaffar Iqbal (Former MLC), Javed Hassan Beig (Former MLA), Noor Mohammad Shiekh (Former MLA)Choudhary Qamar Hussain (Former MLA), Raja Manzoor Ahmad (Former MLA).
The memorandum further reads that since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status embedded in Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories— Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without one—the majority of its residents are yet to reconcile with this decision.
“Although it is heartening that the Kashmir remained peaceful and no fatalities were recorded due to enhanced security measures and other administrative efforts but the credit must go to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who showed extreme maturity while registering their peaceful protest,” it reads.
“Fact of the matter is that a majority of people in Jammu and Kashmir feel hurt and there are vocal concerns wherein they feel their decades-long privileges were unceremoniously curtailed.”
As per KNO, the memorandum reads that to win over the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmiri, the Centre will have to re-examine its decades old policies vis-à-vis Kashmir.
“Depending solely on security measures and dealing with peoples’ political aspirations through the law and order prism will always have its old tested repercussions,” it states.
“Until August 5, 2019 people of the Jammu and Kashmir had not realized the essence of Statehood. For the residents of J&K, the issue of statehood holds more emotional importance than legal. Statehood for the inhabitants of the erstwhile princely State is something they genuinely relate to as a reference to their glorious past, a place which has been a mosaic of various religions, cultures, languages and regions. So Statehood for these people is solidification of the idea of pluralism and respectful coexistence.”
The memorandum also reads that the abrogation of Article 370 and, in particular, annulling Article 35A on account of being “discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir” and it being “an obstacle in the development of the state” has outstanding issues.
“As we know Article 35A, among its various provisions, granted special rights to permanent residents of J&K for: “ (i) employment under the State Government; (ii) acquisition of immovable property in the State; (iii) settlement in the State …” and, of course, defining such residents.
“The restoration of internet connectivity in all regions of the Union Territory needs to be looked into as a major confidence building measure and an outreach to the public. This is also very important for the industrial economy, education, medical services, media, as well as revival of the tourism sector in the Union Territory,” the memorandum reads. (KNO)
