Abrogation of Art 370, 35A ‘big mistake’ by Centre
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 1: Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today dispelled the rumours of him becoming the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and said that he instead wants to serve the people of the Union Territory.
Azad while addressing a rally to mark the foundation day of his Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) said that some people were trying to give the impression that he was looking for rehabilitation.
“I will request people not to trust the rumour mills which are working in overdrive…. There is a fresh rumour here that Ghulam Nabi Azad is going to be the next LG. I have not come to J&K for a job but to serve the people”, he said.
“When I came here in 2005, I left two prized Ministries to serve the people. It was not as if I was without work,” he said.
Azad said unemployment and inflation were two main problems facing the J&K which he wants to address by exploiting the tourism potential of the region.
“Inflation is on the rise. It is true that inflation is not specific to India. Europe has the highest inflation but they have other means to tackle it. We are a poor state. Unemployment is on the rise. There are no jobs. Government is advertising posts but interviews are not held. Educated youth have no jobs and their parents have exhausted their savings on their education,” he said.
The former Congress leader said tourism has the potential to provide a livelihood for all sections of the society.
“One Tulip Garden (which was made in 2007) has provided livelihood to thousands of people. As CM, I had a plan to develop 10 to 12 tourist locations in each district of Jammu and Kashmir. I had plans of providing loans to people for setting up homestay facilities which could provide earning opportunities to them,” he added.
Azad described the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A by the Centre in 2019 as a great mistake.
“There were some political mistakes over many years which have pushed the State backwards, instead of going forward. In the last nine years, another great mistake was made – Article 370 and Article 35A were removed,” he said.
“Article 35A, subsequently Article 35B, was not promulgated after Independence. It was brought by the Maharaja (Hari Singh) in 1925. I said this in Parliament that had the BJP known that they would not have touched Article 370 and Article 35A. This mistake pushed us further back. There was an uncertainty whether the land will stay with us or not,” he added.
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