Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 16: Ridiculing the boggy being raised for retention of Article 370 and Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution as also the holding of plebiscite to decide the future of J&K, former Union Minister Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta observed that all these issues are out dated and the rant is being carried on just to create a fuss and arouse the communal sentiments to fish in the troubled waters in the Valley and also elsewhere.
Prof. Gupta pointed out that on the very face of it, the Article 370 is a temporary provision. It is travesty of fact that it still existed in the Statue Book. So is the case with Article 35-A, which was ill conceived and fissiparous.
He recalled that the then Law Minister and founding father of the Constitution, Dr. B. R Ambedkar had declined to pilot this provision in the Constituent Assembly that it being discriminatory, and then the Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru had to employ the services of another colleague Gopala Swami Ayyangar to appease his friend Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who was never clear in his moves and some of newsmen had rightly termed him as an “enigma” , so is the case now with his decedents speaking in various languages and tones at various places, moreso in power and after deprivation of power.
He also pointed that when this obnoxious Article was discussed, Nehru had assured Moulana Mohani and other agitated nationalists that Article 370 is a temporary measure and this would wither away with the passage of time. It is responsibility of the Congressmen now to explain that why they are failing to carry the assurance of their icon.
Remembering visionary Pt. Prem Nath Dogra, Prof. Gupta reminded that Pt. Dogra had opposed this Article by saying that it is not much difficult to pamper wrong but it becomes a big problem to get rid of an evil.
He said the time has proved that Nehru was wrong and Pt. Dogra was on the right although he was made to suffer long term of jails for denouncing the wrong.
Prof. Gupta also ridiculed the demand for plebiscite as the Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the Instrument of Accession by using his legal authority for secular India rather than opting for the theocratic Pakistan.
He said that the position of Pakistan is no more than that of being an aggressor and usurper.
Prof. Gupta also said that Pakistan had committed heinous crimes against humanity by resorting to massacres, conversions and vandalizing with the demographic character of the State and moreso, by not vacating the occupied areas of the State as per much talked UN resolution of February 5, 1949. He also pointed out that even the former Secretary General of UN Council, Kofi Annan had described this resolution as redundant.
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