Harsha Kakar
Prior to 05 Aug 2019, when article 370 was repealed, a separate set of rules for the state was acceptable. However, in the current environment, when it has become a Union Territory (UT) and the controversial article repealed andearlier rules and regulations replaced then should J and K continue to adhere to draconic norms. While outwardly, it may appear that much has changed within the system, inwardly, the more the announcement of changes the more the similarity to earlier systems and in some cases even worse.
On the positive side has been the fact that 1.5 lakh citizens who migrated from Pakistan in 1947 received their domicile certificates as also did Gurkhas who remained in the state and were once a part of the state army. The local rule of previous chief ministers living at state expense was cancelled, and they were compelled to vacate their palatial accommodations. Control of the CM over state universities was repealed. Legal protection granted to anti-nationals 42 years ago, preventing their move to jailsoutside the state has been lifted. National schemes which were not implemented in the state became valid.
However, there are similarly glaring shortcomings.
The Centre promised granting domicile status to children of J and K women married outside the state. Local rules now in place state that such children must display resident status for a period of 15 years. If they have married outside the state, even though they possess property within, will 15 years residency be possible in all cases. This is the current Government twisting promises made by the centre. Realistically, if the mother is a state subject, her children should automatically be state subjects, without exception. If additional proof is sought, then it violates the law of equality.
While few hill states charge non-state tourist and private vehicles for entering the state, none charge for exiting the state. The charges are normally collected enroute to tourist destinations. It is only J and K which charges for entry and exit. Is this norm authorised as per Indian law or is it continuing bullying tactics of the pre abrogation era?
All states which charge on entry do so to vehicles from other states. It is only J and K which charges its own residents traveling in state registered vehicles, on entry and exit. Is the Lt Governor aware that his Government is wrongly demanding additional charges from its own people while providing them no better facilities.
The entry at Lakhanpur and its system of monitoring COVID 19 status of those entering is pathetic to state the least. The crowds, including drivers, bus passengers, truckers and even residents and tourists arriving by cars are beyond the ability of state authorities to manage. Added to this is poor management, slow procedure of testing and no state security forces to enforce discipline makes visitors scared to venture into the state. Who would enter the Union Territory as a tourist if they are to face harassment at entry itself. No other state or UT adopts such harassing measures.
The current system at Lakhanpur projects an impression of a COVID 19 distributing centre, rather than a monitoring one. I am certain that none from the Union Territory Government has ever visited the location to witness first-hand how miserably those who venture into the state are welcomed. Anyone who religiously follows the procedures laid down will be gifted COVID 19 by the time he leaves.
Within Jammu, the Government is expected to serve the people, not punish it for being residents of the city where the Union Territory Government resides. The Government has never considered the fact that its blocking of roads in front of the government secretariat on flimsy security grounds, adds to problems of the local population. Those in the government are unaffected as they possess passes, only locals are impacted. In addition, is the poor state of roads in the city, it appears that governance has ignored the local populace.
The electricity apparatus in the state appears to belong to a bygone era, vanishing for longer durations than being available. All this, despite authorities claiming that new substations are being established daily. The state electricity department bills people at will ending up with those consuming the maximum being billed the minimum. Is this justice?
The less spoken on continued availability of 4G internet services currently available to the state, the better. The belief that it supports terrorists is largely a farce. Terrorists have multiple other means of communication available which security forces are aware of. Fake propaganda from Pak continues even in the current scenario. Those even remotely knowledgeable are aware of how to bypass the system. However, the sufferers are the residents with the worst affected being local students, especially in this era of COVID.
Students from across the union territory have been approaching every level of the state and Central Government for restoring internet services to enable them to continue with online classes and prepare for competitive exams. All their requests have fallen on deaf ears. Evidently, the centre does not trust its own population which has displayed support and backed the Government in this transitory phase. With passage of time, the only region where levels of education would have suffered during the phase of online classes would be J and K.
The public has begun believing that promises by the Government made a year ago are just for public consumption and nothing will change. They have stopped complaining because no one has ever listened to them. Their faith and trust on local governance has begun to vanish. If one year and two Lt Governors are not enough to set things right, then nothing will ever get done. J and K would remain as it was, despite it now being controlled by the centre and free from political pressures, where politicians seek to concentrate only on their own constituencies.
The author is Major General (Retd)
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