Resolves for restoration of Art 370, 35-A, Statehood
J&K people being humiliated, its consequences can be dangerous for entire nation, have renewed pledge to fight till pre Aug 4, 2019 position is restored: Tarigami
Srinagar, Aug 24:
People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Tuesday passed a resolution, demanding restoration of Article 370, 35A and the full Statehood to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The conglomerate also stated that the people of the Union Territory are being humiliated and thus must be stopped as its consequences can be dangerous for the entire nation.
Addressing a press conference after holding a meeting, PAGD spokesperson said that the conglomerate has decided not to act as mute spectators over the humiliation being faced by the J&K people.
“The incumbent government is feeling proud in humiliating the people. Such is the height that the top posts in State and other cadre are held by the outside officers while the J&K bureaucrats are being deprived of the top positions,” PAGD spokesman, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said.
Tarigami, who is also CPI (M) state secretary, stated that the conglomerate has passed a resolution today in the meeting in which several points have been raised including the restoration of what has been snatched on August 05, 2019.
“The voices of people are being muzzled. This has never been witnessed. But, cannot sustain for a long,” he said, adding that the silence in Jammu and Kashmir is being termed as normalcy.
He added that the way J&K is being humiliated seems that only thieves exist here, adding that “we have decided to raise the issue with the people of India, civil Society, media houses and also parliament of India. The humiliation must be stopped as its consequences can be dangerous not only in J&K but in the entire country.
He said that the government's promises and claims about development, employment and other things stand exposed before the government as everybody knows what has been done and what not, adding that the fake claims and promises can't yield any result.
About the recent order regarding no security clearance to people involved in stone pelting and other things, Tarigami said that nobody can be deprived until proved guilty by the court.
He further stated that the jails are flooded with the people and ‘We want to ask the government how many people have been released since the All Party Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was held. I am shocked to hear from a top authority that no political leader is detained,” he said.
Notably, this was for the first time since the conglomerate's formation that the workers of constituent parties attended the PAGD meeting.
The meeting that lasted for two hours, a resolution was unanimously passed by the participants.
Here is the full text of the resolution:
Unconstitutional decisions of August 5, 2019 taken in the Parliament to nullify Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution of India and the damaging legislation which dismembered the historic state and created two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh – has created a big political void and deep uncertainty in the erstwhile state. It is most unfortunate that the judicial challenges against this abrogation as a violation of the Constitution continue to remain pending before the Supreme Court even after two years.
The suppression of civil liberties and democratic rights continues unabated. Attack on democratic rights under the draconian laws like UAPA/PSA continues as hundreds of people remain under detention without even charges being framed. New orders are being passed like non-clearance for passports and government services to anyone involved in ‘law and order' or ‘stone pelting cases'. This negates the principle of natural justice by equating a police report with being guilty and being denied all these services. Jurisprudence underlines that everyone is innocent till proven guilty.
By making the status of Permanent Residents of erstwhile state redundant, thereby, the protection of jobs and land rights were snatched arbitrarily which deepened the sense of insecurity in the regions and communities.
Economy of the region is getting from bad to worse day-by-day as the tall promises of development; investment and job creation of the government have fallen flat. Instead of creating new employment opportunities, daily-wagers, casual labourers, scheme workers and other contractual employees are either not getting wages regularly or are being altogether denied their wages. Agriculture and Horticulture, Tourism, handicrafts, transport and other sectors are in deep crisis.
Successive executive orders post August 2019 like domicile laws, curbs on media, intimidation of government employees, discriminatory rules on employment are some of the authoritarian diktats that have been imposed on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Termination of some employees without giving them a chance to be heard has created a fear psychosis among the employees in general. Local officers are being side-lined and the abolition of the State Cadre is one more step towards disempowerment of the people.
Unabated killings of people, including political activists, in Kashmir belie the government's peace and normalcy claims. This meeting unequivocally condemns the killings of unarmed persons, including political activists.
It is absolutely imperative that people in every region and community in J&K remain united and not fall prey to false campaigns and attempts aimed at dividing and disempowering them further. Not only in Kashmir, but there is huge dissatisfaction over the impact of the undemocratic course adopted by the Center and the local administration in Jammu and Ladakh regions as well. People in all regions of the erstwhile state have started questioning the BJP's claim of “Naya Kashmir”. People want to know what they have achieved by destroying the perspective of Naya Kashmir which was framed through hard and protracted struggle by the people against the autocratic regime and feudal lords.
Nothing substantial has emerged after the Prime Minister's ‘Dilli ki Doori and Dil ki Doori' slogan during his meeting with J&K leaders in New Delhi two months back. No confidence-building-measured have been taken to provide some relief to distressed people of the region.
Statehood as it existed prior to August 5, 2019 must be restored. All political prisoners must be released immediately. Indiscriminate use of draconian laws must be put to an end.
We firmly resolve to uphold the glorious traditions of unity, amity and brotherhood of the people of different regions and communities.
We assure our people that we shall remain on their side under all circumstances for their better future and dignified life.
