Srinagar, Aug 4 (GNS): It has been a year since BJP Govt. scrapped J&K’s special status under Article 370,35A demoted the erstwhile state into two Union Territories. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah justified and defended the decision on the floor of the house, that it would end decades-long militancy, separatism and corruption in the region and bring development, jobs and prosperity to the region.
However, one year down the line, promises proved to be a mirage and the claims a hoax. None of the aforementioned claims pass the test of reality. If violence has really come down and the security scenario has improved, then why does the administration resort to a muscular approach of silencing the voices of the population by arbitrarily booking its people and detaining youth under draconian laws like UAPA, Public Safety Act.
One of the loudest statements we have been hearing is that Article 370 was impediment in development, investment and job creation? How many jobs were created? How much investment has come in? How many developmental projects have been completed or announced? In fact the reality is that lacs of people have lost their jobs due to the lockdowns and uncertainty in the region. Forget about development and creating new employment opportunities, thousands of daily-wagers, casual labourers, scheme workers and others have been denied wages for months together.
Businesses have been shattered in the last year both in Jammu and Kashmir provinces and the economy’s back has been broken. Not only people of the Valley, but residents of Jammu and Ladakh regions too are suffering because of the wrong policies of the BJP government. The uncertainties and uneasy calm combined with alienation poses a greater threat to the socio-politics of the state.
Moves for delimitation of constituencies and notification issued for new domicile rules and other such measures amount to undermine the unity of the people of different regions and communities. The aim is to redesign the “union territory” by changing its demography.
Despite spike in Covid -19 no focused attention is being paid for its containment.
Education sector has remained a causality, low speed connectivity has proved to be a big impediment for every activity.
The only thing that the revocation of Article 370 has achieved so far is a complete abrogation of democracy in J&K and an unconscionable suppression of civil and democratic rights.
On this dark anniversary and at this critical juncture of our history we must resolve to unitedly safe guard the interests of our people and resist the attempts of the government to throttle democracy and rights of the people. (GNS)
