The former chief minister also stressed the importance of unity among the residents of the Union Territory to fight the threats from China and Pakistan.
Tag: Article 370
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Foreign envoys had first-hand experience of restoration of grassroots democracy in J&K: MEA
MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said 24 envoys visited Jammu and Kashmir on February 17-18 and they represented various geographical regions.
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Farooq Abdullah advocates dialogue with Pakistan to end terrorism in J&K
By PTI
JAMMU: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday advocated dialogue with Pakistan to end terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, saying friendship holds the key to development in the region.“Terrorism is still prevalent (in Jammu and Kashmir) contrary to their (BJPs) claim that we have finished it. If we want to finish it, we have to talk with our neighbour,” Abdullah said.
Talking to reporters during a visit to a market here, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state remembered former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee’s words “you can change your friends but not your neighbours” and said “either we grow friendship and prosper or continue the enmity, then there will be no prosperity”.
He was responding to a question about the terrorist attack on police in Bhagat locality of Srinagar on February 19, which left two policemen dead.
“This is the reality of the day. I appeal to the government to adopt the same approach as they had with China over the standoff in Ladakh and started withdrawal of its troops. The same is needed here to pull out J&K from this (terrorism),” he said.
Abdullah said the world has shrunk and the country like rest of the world is fighting coronavirus.
“We have to solve this issue as well.”
Asked whether he is hopeful of success of the ongoing Indo-China talks, the NC leader said “the issue is big because this line is not defined and so there are differences between the two powerful countries”.
“Both the countries need to sit and define this line (Line of Actual Control) so that the issue is settled forever. Both the countries are powerful and the key to development lies in the friendship,” he said.
Responding to a question on increasing petrol prices, Abdullah said, “I want to request the government to review its decision and reverse the hike to allow the poor to live”.
“I heard they are buying it (petrol) at Rs 30 per litre and if they are selling it at Rs 100 per litre to the people, it is wrong. Where the middle class that has a fixed income would go? They have to run the household, pay school fees of their children, and take care of the sick as well. It (the government) has pushed the whole country into the crisis and needs to act fast to set it (petrol prices) right,” he said.
Asked about his party boycotting the delimitation commission meeting, Abdullah said “we have already said that what they have done on August 5 (2019) we have not accepted it. When we have not accepted that, how could we accept delimitation commission for J&K.”
On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked the special status of J&K under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.
“I myself (as chief minister) delayed the delimitation exercise because the delimitation was scheduled to take place in the country in 2026. What was the reason for carrying out the delimitation at this time? Why not they go for the exercise in the entire country instead of picking up only a few states? That is our issue,” he said, He added had they done it across the country, National Conference would have gladly joined the exercise but they have picked up J&K deliberately, therefore “we are not with it”.
On the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal’s demand for imposition of ban on the use of ‘pheran’ (a loose gown used by Kashmiris during winter to keep themselves warm during winter) after the assailant who attacked police was caught on camera wearing the garment to hide his weapon, Abdullah said “pheran is the identity of Kashmiris and if somebody has misused it, why defame it?” “Without pheran, what can one do in minus 10 degrees Celsius? We hold the Kangri (fire pot) inside it. We don’t even have the electricity,” he said, adding Kashmiris have worn the ‘pheran’ even at the time when militancy was at its peak and “”we will never discard the pheran.
He termed the attack on the policemen as tragic and said those behind it should be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law of the land.
Earlier during the day, a group of Rashtriya Bajrang Dal activists staged an anti-Pakistan protest here over growing incidents of terror attacks and set ablaze the flag of the neighbouring country.
The protesters demanded a ban on the ‘pheran’.
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Scrapping of Article 370 ended sufferings: L-G
By Express News Service
SRINAGAR: Years of suffering of the people of J&K ended on August 5, 2019, when its special status granted by Article 370 was abrogated, Lt-Governor Manoj Sinha told the foreign diplomats who met him on the second day of their-two-visit.“Efforts of the PM ushered the UT into a new era, which has brought about socio-economic development and empowerment of the people,” Sinha told the 24 foreign envoys on the political, security and economic situation in J&K.
He informed the envoys that the Modi government had drawn up excellent ideas and initiatives of industrialisation even in far-flung areas so that jobs could be created for youth. He said the government is investing more than ever before in infrastructure, industries, education, healthcare, skill development, sustainable livelihood.
Terming militancy as the biggest enemy of human-kind, Sinha said: “Despite attempts by our neighbour to destabilise the security situation and trigger social disharmony, the government remains resolute.
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European Union envoys to visit Jammu & Kashmir on February 17 to assess situation
By Express News Service
SRINAGAR: A delegation of European Union envoys in India will visit Jammu and Kashmir on February 17-18 to assess the ground situation in the region after abrogation of J&K’s special status and peaceful conduct of the first-ever District Development Council (DDC) elections. A 20-member delegation will arrive in the militancy-hit valley on February 17.Sources said the visit is facilitated by the Ministry of External Affairs to showcase peaceful conduct of DDC elections and peaceful environment in J&K to the international community. The visiting envoys will interact with newly elected DDC members, leaders of different political parties, traders, citizens, social activists and journalists.
Sources said they will take a first-hand account of the situation. On February 18, the envoys will visit Jammu and interact with DDC members, politicians, social activists.
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Azad raises doubts in RS over Centre’s intention to give full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Questioning the ruling NDA on whether it wanted permanent UT status for Jammu and Kashmir, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday batted for the restoration of its statehood, saying development had halted, there was an increase in unemployment and industries were closing, making survival difficult in the region.The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, “I want to ask Home Minister Amit Shah if the present cadre was working well then what was the need to merge it? You had promised that the statehood will be restored.
“But bringing this bill creates suspicion that GoI wants to keep J&K permanently a union territory.”
Opposing the Statutory Resolution and Legislative Business (Bill for Consideration and Passing) – the Jammu and Kashmir (Amendment) Bill 2021 as the first speaker, Azad said it was perhaps his last speech in the House and he didn’t want to use harsh language but contrary to the government’s tall promises behind converting J&K into UT, development had been stalled, industry couldn’t enter and unemployment was on the rise.
Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy had earlier moved a motion for considering the bill and a statutory resolution on the draft law in Rajya Sabha.
ALSO READ | Rajya Sabha passes Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill
The senior Congress leader said Article 370 had only two conditions – outsiders couldn’t buy land or work there which had been in place since the time of Raja Hari Singh.
Saying that only small chunks of land were there due to the region being mountainous and full of forests, he said on scrapping of Article 370 many MPs were elated to buy land but he had told them that land was too costly there and “even I couldn’t afford to buy” it.
The earlier law ensured locals had jobs but now no new industries were coming up and even existing firms were shutting operations, he said, adding seven districts out of 10 in Jammu province had no industry and no proper rail connectivity.
“No new industry is coming up at present. Of the 12,997 industries in Jammu, only 5,890 are functional, while 7,160 i.e. 60 per cent are closed. Development remains stalled. It is only on TV and not on roads,” he said.
The condition of national highways is dilapidated and ceasefire violations have risen causing severe damage to land and property, he said and added that water supply was in shambles, while power tariff had risen abnormally to Rs 350 per unit from Rs 90 per unit.
Tourism had taken a toll on account of months-long curfew earlier and then due to COVID-19 pandemic, schools, colleges and universities were closed and no salaries were being given to teachers.
Had there been elected representatives they could have taken responsibility and addressed the issues, he said.
Drawing Home Minister Amit Shah’s attention towards PhD and MPhil qualified 3,000 teachers, he said they were living from hand to mouth, barely being given Rs 3,000 a month and were on probation for 7 years.
He said no where does this happen.
“Give attention to such issues. Probation happens for six months. Had there been Assembly they should have gone there with their plight but they are forced to come to me. They can’t afford milk for infants on such a meagre salary,” Azad said.
He said likewise 15,000 medical assistants and pharmacists were jobless.
“Give statehood and conduct elections,” Azad demanded and said it is a border region and both the enemies — Pakistan and China — are sitting on our heads, and under the circumstance the government should strive to win the hearts of locals and strengthen its hands.
He said people of Kashmir had always been with India and recalled how Kashmiris, including women and children, resisted Pakistan’s bid to capture the region in 1948, till the Indian Army reached there.
Azad also said that though it was Muslim-majority state, the executive remained largely Hindus and urged the government not make “Kashmir a guinea pig for experiments.”
While participating in the debate, BJP’s Dushyant Gautam said that political parties in the state were exploiting the people under the guise of Article 370.
AIADMK’s A Navaneethakrishnan said the state requires more all India services cadre officers to implement the development schemes in the Union Territory.
“It is for a good purpose. These amendments has been brought on. I welcome it and support this bill,” he said, adding that considering it is a border state, with threats from Pakistan and China, J&K should remain under the direct control of the Union Government.
Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD wanted to know whether the changes proposed under the bill were temporary or permanent in nature.
He also wanted to know from the government whether there had been any increase in fresh recruitment in militancy in the valley after the change of J&K’s status.
Ashok Siddharth of BSP also supported the bill, however, said earlier 50 per cent of the state cadre KAS officials were elevated to IAS cadre but after this, their elevation would be reduced to only 33 per cent and this should be looked into.
Sushil Kumar Gupta of AAP said the government should take steps to normalise the situation in J&K and restore its full statehood as promised earlier.
Shamsher Singh Manhas of BJP said UTs of J&K and Ladakh have several development schemes which are getting implemented.
“This is the only area where three AIIMS have been granted. One each for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. It has also got one IIT and IIM,” he said, adding a new ring road for Jammu is also being constructed.
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High-speed internet back in Jammu and Kashmir after 550 days
Express News Service
SRNAGAR: In a huge relief to the people of the Union Territory, the Lt Governor administration in J&K on Friday lifted the ban on high-speed internet and announced the restoration of 4G mobile internet after nearly 550 days.These services were suspended in erstwhile state hours before scrapping of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
J&K government spokesman and Principal Secretary (Power & Information), Rohit Kansal announced the decision to restore high-speed mobile internet.
“4G mobile internet services being restored in the entire J&K,” tweeted Kansal.
After Kansal’s tweet, J&K Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra issued an order lifting restrictions on mobile and fixed landline internet. Restrictions on mobile internet speed were lifted after taking inputs from security forces and police, read the order.
ALSO WATCH:
The Home Department has directed mobile internet service providers to provide access to the subscribers. The decision brought smiles back on the faces of people.
“4G Mubarak! For the first time since Aug 2019 all of J&K will have 4G mobile data. Better late than never (sic),” tweeted former J&K Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah.
Former IAS officer-turned-politician Shah Faesal, who quit politics after release from detention last year, said restoration of 4G internet is a positive development.
People from all walks of life including students, doctors, professionals, government employees, journalists and businessmen have welcomed restoration of high-speed internet.
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J-K, Ladakh fully integrated into mainstream of India, government tells Rajya Sabha
By PTI
NEW DELHI: The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been fully integrated into the mainstream of the nation after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy told Parliament on Wednesday.He told Rajya Sabha that as many as 613 separatists, overground workers and stone pelters were detained in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019 and 430 of them have been released so far.
Replying to another question, Reddy said after the constitutional changes and reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been fully integrated into the mainstream of the nation.
“As a result, all the rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and benefits of all the central laws that were being enjoyed by other citizens of the country are now available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” he said.
Reddy said the change has brought about socio-economic development in both union territories, empowerment of people, removal of unjust laws, bringing in equity and fairness to those discriminated since ages who are now getting their due.
These, along with comprehensive development, are a few of the important changes that are ushering both the new UTs towards the path of peace and progress.
With the conduct of elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions such as Panches and Sarpanches, Block Development Councils and District Development Councils, the three-tier system of grassroots level democracy has now been established in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
The minister said various measures were taken in the interest of security and public order which included preventive detention of certain persons.
“Since August 1, 2019, 613 persons including separatists, overground workers, stone pelters, etc. were detained at various points of time. Out of these, based on regular review and ground situation, 430 persons have been released till date,” he said in written reply to a question.
The minister also said that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has further reported that no person is under house arrest in the UT.
Reddy also said the Jammu and Kashmir administration has approved a business revival package of Rs 1,352.99 crore on September 25, 2020.
An amount of Rs 434.08 crore was released up to December 31, 2020, out of which Rs 250 crore was as economic package and Rs 184.08 crore as COVID-19 relief.
The amount of Rs 434.08 crore has been fully utilised by December 31, 2020, he said.
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Farooq Abdullah requests PM Narendra Modi to restore 4G internet in Jammu & Kashmir
By PTI
JAMMU: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir as he highlighted various problems due to lack of the facility and the harsh winter in the Union Territory.He prayed for the success of the COVID-19 vaccine and urged people to maintain communal harmony and brotherhood at all costs for overall prosperity and development.
“The prime minister is saying 5G is coming in India while we are deprived of 4G (mobile internet service). May he come and live here after leaving the chair and see how we are living under 2G (service),” Abdullah, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state, said at a book release function here.
The 4G mobile internet service was snapped across Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 following revocation of special status and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories.
While the service was restored in two districts, Udhampur in Jammu and Ganderbal in Kashmir, after over a year, it is still suspended in rest of the 18 districts.
The well-attended function was organised by Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust to release the biography of its patron-in-chief Masud Ahmad Choudhary, a retired Additional Director General of Police and ex-vice chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (Rajouri).
“Students are sitting in their homes and getting education through internet and the businessmen are also dependent on internet connectivity. My request to the prime minister is that if you are saying this place is on the path of development, give us 4G for the sake of god so that we too can benefit and our children move forward,” Abdullah said.
He said attention is required to be given towards it.
“There is a talk of Rs 28,000 crore package. First, let us know what happened to the earlier Rs 80,000 crore package and where the money had gone. See our condition and had there been no army, the Srinagar-Jammu national highway would have remained closed for one year,” the NC leader said referring to the restoration of the highway by Border Roads Organsiation (BRO), which constructed a bailey bridge near Kela Morh to restore traffic on the strategic highway after a portion of the road caved-in on January 10.
Earlier this month, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had announced a new industrial development scheme (IDS) with a total outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to encourage new investment and to take industrial development to the block level.
Abdullah said people in Kashmir are faced with a lot of problems amid sub-zero temperature.
“What can I say about the problems we are facing in Kashmir where there is no electricity, petrol, diesel, kerosene oil and shortage of daily use food items. Jammu is the door to Kashmir and it is pathetic that former prime minister A B Vajpayee promised a rail link (between Kashmir and rest of the country) by 2007, which was revised to 2022 by this regime. Hope it would not extend to 2040 when I will be no more,” he said.
Abdullah said he is advising his brother Mustafa Kamal not to travel by Jammu-Srinagar national highway in view of the lurking threat of shooting stones from the hillocks overlooking the highway from Udhampur onwards.
“I am not doing any politics. This is the present day condition in J&K. Yesterday, I received the New Year greeting card from Delhi Chief Minister and five days back a friend’s letter from abroad dispatched in November last year. I telephoned him and requested him not to post any letter in future,” he said.
He said the situation is no different in Jammu even as the present regime promised 24X7 electricity to consumers.
“This is the condition of capital cities, god knows the condition of the people in village and far flung areas.”
Referring to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the virus has brought the world to its knees and showed people power of the almighty.
“People today are afraid of handshakes and hugging each other as thousands are still dying on a daily basis in various parts of the world. Vaccine has been found and only time will tell about its efficacy but I am praying for its success so that the situation gets normal,” he said.
He, however, expressed surprise that some people were not adhering to the SOPs and moving around without masks, urging them not to lower their guard.
Urging people to be courageous and never deviate from truth, Abdullah said education has the power to empower the people and make them distinguish between right and wrong.
“Make yourself courageous which is possible when you receive education, both religious as well as worldly knowledge. Nothing will happen if you get only one of the two, innocents are being put inside jails and criminals are roaming freely. Why because we lack boldness?” he said.
Abdullah said people must introspect and try to understand the religion that they practice.
“No religion teaches hatred. The religion is not bad but it is the human who is bad,” he said, adding every religion teaches brotherhood and to live in harmony.
“When we do not respect our religion, how will we respect the religion of others? He (god) is everywhere and in every shape. We are Muslims for namesake and are practically far away (from Islam). Till we become practical, we cannot change our destiny,” he said.
Hailing the contribution of Choudhary for the upliftment of his community, he said Gujjars are still facing poverty and disease and need to be empowered economically and educationally.
He urged the trust to translate the released Urdu biography of Choudhary into other languages, especially Hindi and said “they think Urdu is a language of Muslims but do not know this is not the Muslim’s language alone. This is one of the languages in the country.”
“We will die but the language (Urdu) will remain. It is the identity of India,” Abdullah said.
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Never said about restoration of Article 370: Gupkar leader tones down on earlier promise
Express News Service
SRINAGAR: Three months after the formation of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to fight for restoration of J&K’s special status, the convener of the seven-party alliance, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, on Thursday stated that the alliance never said it would get back Article 370.He also ruled out launching any big agitation. Talking to this newspaper, Tarigami said they are planning to meet national leaders.
“We will also be holding a convention. We will visit different parts of Jammu region and talk to people because this (revoking of J&K’s special status and bifurcation of erstwhile state) is not a concern of an individual or only of Kashmir’s population, but all of J&K.”
When asked whether the PAGD, which was formed in October last year to fight for Article 370 restoration, has any road map, he said, “Road map is not a fixed agenda.But we have got a fixed agenda and that is the restoration of constitutional position of the erstwhile J&K state.”
He, however, asserted that they never said they will get it (Article 370) back.
“Which Gupkar Alliance leader has said they will bring it back. We said we will struggle and raise our voices. What else can we do?”
On whether peaceful agitation will be part of their struggle for Article 370 restoration, Tarigami said, “I can’t say anything on it. We have not sat together to discuss this point. When we meet, we will discuss every option. We will do whatever is required peacefully within norms of the law.”
Taking a dig at PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, he said, “They had promised in Parliament that statehood of J&K would be restored, why are they not restoring it. The BJP is also demanding it. Why don’t they restore the statehood.”