Bats for domicile rights, release of leaders
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 9: Strongly batting for safeguarding of domicile rights of ethnic people of Jammu and Kashmir , senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig today accused former Chief Minister and his party president Mehbooba Mufti of being responsible for downgrading of J&K State into two Union Territories by making ‘provocative’ statements over Article 370.
“That statement was made by Mehbooba Mufti in my absence. That statement should never have been made. It was a provocative statement that resulted in downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir from State to Union Territory,” he said while talking to media persons here today.
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This was the first interaction by any PDP leader with the media persons since August 5 when special status of J&K was withdrawn besides reorganization of the erstwhile State into two Union Territories.
The former Deputy Chief Minister and PDP patron stressed that one can’t get anything by threatening Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister or National Security Advisor. “My approach is that if people of Jammu and Kashmir have to live together and bat for their rights, we have to talk with decency and humility. As citizens of India, we should put before them our complaints and grievances with humility. They (top leadership in New Delhi) are also human being and answerable,” he explained.
It may be recalled that Mehbooba Mufti had earlier warned the Centre that if special rights and privileges to the people of J&K under Article 370 of the Constitution were tinkered with, then there would be no one in the State to hold the tricolour.
Without naming Hurriyat Conference and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Muzaffar Baig reminded that not responding to the offer for talks also re-affirmed the BJP’s opinion that Article 370 was root cause of separatism in Jammu and Kashmir. “Unfortunately, some leaders of our community, militants and a few others went to the extent that they did not even open doors of their house to meet the visiting Parliamentary delegation, which was here for attempting some talks,” he said.
Stating that whatever happened in past was history now, Muzaffar Baig strongly advocated for safeguarding domicile rights of the locals by according `hill State’ status to J&K on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States.
“Besides jobs to the local youth, ethnic culture of Dogras, Kashmiris, Gujjars, Paharis and other communities should be protected either under Article 371 on the pattern of Himachal Pradesh and North Eastern States or through other means,” he stressed.
Lamenting that downgrading of the State to Union Territory has disempowered people of J&K, Muzaffar Baig pinned hopes on PM Modi, Home Minister and NSA Ajit Doval for protecting the jobs and property of J&K people besides their empowerment. “Centre, PM and HM have said that J&K will get Statehood if situation normalizes. What does this mean? Does it mean friendship with Pakistan or regaining the occupied territory of J&K? Then there is no hope,” he said and pointed out that there was no violence and deaths even as shops were getting closed earlier.
Distancing himself from the proposed third front, the PDP leader also mocked at its leaders for urging the Lieutenant Governor to restore J&K’s Statehood. “These people must understand that Statehood as well as Article 371 like status can be granted only by the Government of India and Parliament and not the LG,” he added.
“I don’t talk of any front. I talk of Dogras, Paharis, Gujjars, Kashmiris and others. Those having faith in Indian Constitution are in jails,” said Baig and demanded that those detained or put under house arrest should be immediately released.
“This is unfortunate that those who fought against Hurriyat, separatists and took oath of the Indian Constitution, whose family members were killed by militants, have been jailed. If you have any proof that any Minister or MLA was corrupt or anti-national then put them in jails but why did you arrest those who are not threat to law and order,” he said.
Maintaining that even for the charges under Section 107, there is provision for bail, the senior PDP leader claimed that the detained leaders were not applying for the bail to avoid meeting the fate of Farooq Abdullah, who was also initially detained under Section 107 of the RPC but was later booked under PSA after a PIL was filed in Supreme Court against his arrest. “Farooq Abdullah is the person who always raised Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogan but he was also jailed,” he lamented and reiterated the demand for immediate release of all those detained or put under house arrest.
Replying to a query on the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, Baig said that he was always in the favour of finding some way out for the same in consultation with KPs, Government of India and Government of J&K. I don’t say I have some solution but I can only point out the players. KPs are first party; Government of India is the second party; Government of J&K and Muslims of Kashmir are the third and fourth parties, respectively who have to find a way out for attracting all those Kashmiri Pandits who want to come back to their motherland,” he explained.
On the role of Pakistan in Kashmir, Baig said the neighbouring country should stop aiding and abetting terrorism and abide by the Shimla agreement for a dialogue to resolve the issues. “During the visit of foreign diplomats to Kashmir last time. I said that Pakistan is bound by the Shimla agreement to resolve this issue through dialogue because it was only after this condition, 80,000 Bangladesh army was released. Pakistan should take effective steps to stop the influx of Bundookwala (armed terrorists) into Kashmir and hold a dialogue,” he added.
Baig also said that PDP without consulting him boycotted the Panchayat polls, which was a wrong decision. “Boycotting Panchayat polls by both NC and PDP was a wrong decision,” he maintained and also condemned the party action against those senior leaders who had recently called on LG.
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