Abdul Rashid Khan
After the changes in the physical structure of JK State last year, this geographical unit was divided into two union territories i.e Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. By introducing this change, the long pending demand of the people of Leh district, got ultimately fulfilled. It is a fact that the people of these twin districts of hilly areas of Ladakh region were never treated at par with the people of other regions of the erst-while state. This vast inhabited area, once famous for silk route and strategically and militarily important had always lagged behind in economic development.
The man made laws are always subjected to the changes and amendments in conformity with the requirements of the people of that area and changing times. Similarly it is also a historical fact that the geographical boundaries of any political unit do not remain the same but change with the changing times. The state subject law was enacted during the Dogra regime to protect the interest of people of erstwhile princely state.This law continued to remain effective in the shape of state subject certificate even after 1947 till the new domicile rules were formulated and introduced in 2020. Laws do not make the difference but it is the will and sincere efforts of the people that matters to imbibe and carry on our good traditions and ethos in the right direction to retain our cultural identity. So far as special benefits are concerned, the new domicile certificate is as good as old PRC. However the people having old state subject certificate should be exempted from obtaining new domicile certificate to save time and energy of the govt. officials in processing these documents.
The innocent people of Kashmir have always been misled since 1953 by the leaders of various state political parties including the INC on one account or the other for their vested interests. These leaders have always thrived and achieved their nefarious political ambitions in a situation of chaos and anarchy.
It has been seen that mostly the illiterate people and youth fall prey to their deceptive politics and false promises. With the new political developments of 2019, the leaders of all the political parties have been almost marginalized. To show their existence some leaders are making statements against the new domicile law and others with no credibility among people are crying for restoration of statehood. These leaders have looted the wealth of J&K and created assets worth billions in and out side the country. These leaders are responsible for creating the state of uncertainty, confusion and turmoil and put the people of Kashmir into endless miseries. These leaders are so brazen faced that they do not feel shy in meeting their electorates who have been ditched and deceived.
These sitting MP’s who have been elected with the support of captive votes should observe the propriety of first resigning from the membership of parliament before describing it as illegal law. They also need to tender apology to their electorates for failing to fulfill the promises made in election manifesto. They feel shy to do the same as they do not want to part with, the perks and privileges they love to enjoy as member of parliament. These MPs were the part of the parliament when these laws were passed. This has remained an in-built character of our leaders that first they mislead the people by making false promises and later on leave them in lurch. This is what SMA after disbanding the “plebiscite front” had said in 1975 that 22years of his life from 1953-75 was a period of waywardness.
The new domicile law has to some extent done justice by making the non state IAS and IPS officers who spent their entire life in serving the people of state, eligible for obtaining this certificate and making them the part of larger family of this union territory. We should not therefore hesitate in welcoming the officers belonging to these services who intent to obtain domicile certificate in future.
Let the leaders of Kashmir answer as to why there was no cry when a senior politician in power granted a lease to a non state subject hotelier to run a posh hotel at boulevard just to get a lion’s share in the deal. And how a five star hotel constructed in violation of rules near Chasmashai was rented out to an out side hotelier. Such type of politicians want to have best of both the worlds These leaders have lost their credibility and should not exhaust their political energy any more in befooling the people. Now the time has come to make all efforts to save this part of world from further destruction. The period of family and hereditary rule of incompetent and undeserving political leaders is almost over. It will be in the interest of the valley if these leaders stop making the people particularly our talented and educated youth to flounder in the muddy waters of politics by their wicked and false promises. They should now pave the way for the promising youth of 4th generation who have the capability to deliver the goods honestly and sincerely for bringing peace and stability to achieve a balanced economic development in both the regions of union territory.
(The author is former IGP)
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