Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 29: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today cautioned against conspiracies being hatched, overtly and covertly, to trample the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by weakening Article 370 and Article 35-A.
“A most sinister and mischievous game is being played to hoodwink the public opinion in Jammu by generating a perception that dispensing of Permanent Resident Laws, enacted by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1927 will benefit the Dogras most”, Rana said while addressing one-day convention of the district and block functionaries of NC OBC Cell at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan this afternoon, organized by Co-Chairman Abdul Gani Teli.
He asked the perpetrators of such a vicious conspiracy to spell out to the people as to why the Maharaja was compelled to bring State Subject Laws and said the votaries of such a sinister move will have no answer to it. He said if the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are enjoying the comforts under their roofs, it is because of the historical and revolutionary Permanent Residence Act of 1927 enacted by the Maharaja and Land Reforms Act brought by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
The Provincial President said that State Subject laws serve as a steel frame to the interests of the people, Dogras in particular and repealing or weakening of this constitutional guarantee will pave the way for hegemony of affluent sections of business community and others over locals, who will find themselves subjugated politically, economically and even socially.
“This was the apprehension and motivating factor for the Maharaja to bring State Subject laws and these were not on the asking of Kashmiris, as is being made out by reactionary forces like BJP”, he added.
Rana decried the BJP’s hypocrisy in raising hue and cry over sentimental issues like State Subject laws, saying they don’t speak a word against similar provisions being enjoyed by the people of Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Goa. He lamented that Jammu and Kashmir was being singled out just to satiate the communal agenda of BJP.
He said National Conference will stand like a rock to safeguard the legitimate interests of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, irrespective of caste, creed, colour, region or religion.
Responding to the issues pertaining to welfare of OBC’s, the Provincial President said that the party will fight for the cause being espoused by the Cell created in National Conference. He enumerated the initiatives taken for upliftment of these segments of society.
Former minister, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari called for political empowerment of the weaker sections of society so that they can play their useful role in decision making at various levels.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustaffa Kamaal said that welfare of Other Backward Classes has remained top on the agenda of National Conference. He said while a Board was created with the post of Vice Chairman, having ministerial status, during the tenure of Government headed by the NC, two per cent reservation for these segments of society had also been allocated.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included former minister Mohammed Akbar Lone, State Vice Presidents, Rattan Lal Gupta and Th Kashmira Singh, State Secretary, Th Rachpal Singh, Co-Chairperson SC Cell Vijay Lochan and others.
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