Jammu, Aug 4 : Opposition parties feel that nothing is visible on ground and are demanding restoration of statehood whereas the Bhartiya Janata Party is beating the drums of development and claiming the end of dynasty rule in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the second anniversary of Article 370 Abrogation falling tomorrow.
The central government on August 5, 2019, revoked Article 370 and 35-A from Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories—Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh.
The abrogation of ‘special status’ invited criticism from many political outfits especially the regional parties like National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). However, mixed response was evoked from various quarters on the eve of the Article 370 abrogation anniversary.
Senior BJP leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh says that after August 5, 2019, the scenario has totally changed in Jammu and Kashmir. “Actually, 2014 was the turning point when BJP formed the government in Jammu and Kashmir,” Dr Singh told UNI.
Academician turned politician, Dr Singh feels that thereafter, the scenario in the Union Territory has seen a drastic change especially after the abrogation of Article 370 that ushered peace in the region.
Basically, psychological reformation was seen among people and the opposition parties are well aware that Article 370 is a ‘history’ now and they are just trying to satisfy their egos.
“If we have to study the changes took place in these two years, many can be counted like curb on separatism, stone pelting incidents have come to an end, recently decision was taken that for government jobs, applicants have to get CID verification report and if found indulged in stone-pelting or anti-national activity, will not be considered,” he said.
Land laws were introduced, corrupt people faced CBI, ED, ACB raids and enquiries, Panchayats were strengthened with decentralisation of power, democractic set up cemented at grass root level, DDC polls took place, counted the former Deputy Chief Minister.
Dr Singh said power sector was augmented with approval of many hydro-electric projects, MoUs were signed to provide 24×7 electric supply, industrialists are keen to invest in Jammu and Kashmir, employment will be generated, tourism flourished, security forces were given upper edge and terrorism has been controlled to larger extent.
“Important thing is that ground has been established for peace and development,” said Dr Singh. Another senior leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Kavinder Gupta expressed that these two years were very progressive and major decisions were taken in this period.
Law and order problem is tackled, there are no reports of stone pelting incidents and shutdown calls by separatists, terrorism has been dealt with iron hands, said Mr Gupta.
Many developmental and progressive happenings like rise in tourist inflow, citizenship rights to Valmikis, Gorkhas and West Pakistani refugees, institutions like AIIMS, IIT, IIM, Central University were announced and the work on these projects is in progress.
Express Highway, Metro Rail, Smart City project, Ring Road, investment in the corporate sector, six Medical Colleges, are among few to be counted in these two years. “Though COVID has slowed down the pace of work but will soon be expedited,” said the BJP leader.
Contrary to that, National Conference leader and former Legislator, Devender Singh Rana told UNI that unemployment and unemployability are among two major issues and need to be addressed on urgent basis, adding, “as promised by the Prime Minister, ‘Statehood’ must also be restored.”
He said Jammu is still craving for empowerment and the government must address the aspirations of the people of Jammu region and sub-regions to ensure stable development. “Land and jobs of the people must be constitutionally protected,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, Ghulam Ahmad Mir told UNI that from August 5, 2019 to August 5, 2021, this region has been pushed back to 25 years. “We have gone 25 years back. Development on ground is zero and only hollow slogans are being raised,” said Mr Mir.
JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that August 5 marks the ‘Yaddoyad Day’ (day of struggle) for the restoration of lost statehood status and other genuine rights to the people especially for the future generations.
“On this day Jammu and Kashmir was deprived of its identity as a state and stripped of all other rights especially rights to land and jobs, so it remains the day of struggle to achieve our lost identity, status and other genuine rights so that our younger generations avail and enjoy those rights snatched away from them,” he said.
He questioned BJP to answer whether the militancy has been eliminated, how many government jobs have been provided in the government sector in two years, how many jobs were created in the private sector and how much investment and industrialization has been witnessed.
“What is progress on bringing people closer to Delhi and Dil (heart), as stated by the Prime Minister, if there is no unrest, why not restoration of statehood and early elections,” he questioned.
BJP Mahila Morcha President, Sanjita Dogra speaking to UNI expressed that the women’s rights were secured after Abrogation of Article 370.
“Earlier a woman from Pakistan married to J&K resident was treated as citizens of Jammu and Kashmir but not our daughters and this exercise of injustice has been brought to an end by the Central government,” said Ms Dogra.
She said women remained deprived of their constitutional rights, adding, “finally new order of providing citizenship rights to husbands of women from Jammu and Kashmir married outside, relieved many.”
Women participated in Panchayat Polls, DDC elections and many other activities, adding Ms Dogra said, “employment is generated, development has started taking place, tourism is flourishing and all this happened after abrogation of Article 370.”
Apni Party President Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari said the Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A did not only snatch the special status of Jammu and Kashmir but also incremented the trust deficit and sense of alienation among the people to an exponential level.
“J&K’s special status was enshrined within Indian Constitution while the unprecedented way it was revoked, did profoundly hurt the sentiments of the people who continue to feel politically disempowered,” he said.
Mr Bukhari said there exists no substitute to the special status to J&K.
“But we hope and believe that the Supreme Court of India which is an abode of justice will reciprocate to the people’s collective demand and deliver justice,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we have not witnessed any major development taking place in J&K since August 5, 2019 as was projected by the advocates of abrogation of Article 370. Rather, ways of cultural imperialism have been facilitated by the bureaucratic regimes who seem hell-bent to convert our heritage sites into commercial entities like Mubarak Mandi in Jammu,” he added.
Meanwhile security has been beefed up ahead of August 5, 2019 anniversary and Independence Day in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Ahead of the second anniversary of abrogation of Article 370, an alert has been sounded and the security forces in the region are asked to remain vigilant,” said a senior police official.
The advisory is part of the comprehensive guidelines issued ahead of the Independence Day celebrations and intelligence reports suggesting that militants may try to carry out terror attacks and may use drones to drop improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at crowded places.
“All border check posts have been put on alert and all police posts across the Jammu region have also been alerted,” he said.
