Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 28: Article 370 of the Constitution denied fundamental rights to Jammu and Kashmir residents and the controversial provision was revoked in a “democratic” manner by the Narendra Modi Government.
This was stated by Yudhvir Sethi, J&K BJP vice president in a statement issued here today. “Residents of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of all those fundamental rights which are enjoyed by other countryman since the Constitution came into force in 1950. People advocating human rights talk about injustice when the internet was shutdown in J&K. But where were they when Article 370 denied reservations to Scheduled Tribes in the State, when women of J&K were deprived of marrying non-Kashmiri men,” Sethi asked?.
“The Kashmiri leaders never spoke of Jammu and Ladakh. The ‘unique identity’ professed by the Kashmiri leaders meant, in fact, fighting against secularism and equality for women, Dalits and refugees. They had no room for justice. They did not even have room for the Kashmiri Pandits or the poor Kashmiri Muslim in the villages who was a helpless pawn in their evil game. They were indifferent to Ladakh and oppressive towards Jammu. Dogras have been made invisible and voiceless for seven decades. The Kashmiri leaders had ruined the Dogra State for their personal motives,” Sethi alleged.
“The last 70 years, even with the maximum funds flowing to J&K, were not used for development or welfare for us. This money has always been pocketed by a few families in Kashmir — corruption like J&K was not seen any where. The Jammu region was the most underdeveloped with no network of roads, and even those that exist left in pathetic condition. For years, the Dogras have were dominated by Kashmiri political masters, Sethi said.
“The neutralization of 370, abrogation of 35-A and reorganisation of J&K State into two Union Territories are acts of transforming erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into hub of peace from a hotbed of separatism, terrorism and international intrigue. Jammu and Kashmir now stands fully integrated without any Constitutional reservations that nourished feeling of separateness amongst the people living here. The fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India are now available in full measure to all Domiciles of Jammu and Kashmiris. Gorkhas, Valmiki Samaj, PoJK refugees, West Pakistan refugees now enjoy all rights as equal citizens of India after suffering a humiliating discrimination for all these years,” he said.
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