NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday lashed out at the Modi Government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and said it destroyed the communal harmony as well as the economy of Jammu and Kashmir.
”It was a big mistake which has destroyed the economy of Jammu and Kashmir,” said Congress Member Manish Tewari initiating the debate in the Lok Sabha on Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2019-20, Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2019-20 from April 1, 2019 to October 30, 2019 for Jammu and Kashmir and Demands for Grants for 2020-21 for Jammu and Kashmir from October 31 to March 31, 2020, Demands for Grants for Jammu and Kashmir and for Ladakh for 2020-21.
All the demands for grants were clubbed by the Chair under the rules, Speaker Om Birla said.
RSP Member N K Premachandran raised an objection on the joint discussion for grants.
Mr Tewari said it was unfortunate that the decision to nullify Article 370 was taken neither under diplomacy nor ‘rajdharma’, but was the result of narrow-minded thinking of the Government and gave adverse outcomes.
He alleged that the Government gave an indication that ”we want the territory but not the people of J and K”.
”We nonetheless do not know the way many individuals from J and K have been detained in several prisons throughout the nation after August 5,” he said. Mr Tewari demanded that the government issue a list of people who have been kept in different jails.
The Congress Member said internet rights of the people of J and K were taken away, adding that access to internet is a fundamental right.
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad made an intervention, saying that the Supreme Court docket’s order on entry to web is for freedom of speech and expression and never for terror networks.
Mr Tewari responded that terrorism been there for long and every government has tried to deal with it.
After the government announced abrogation of provisions of Article 370 provisions on August 5 last year and bifurcate Jammu and KLashmir state into two union territories — J&K and Ladakh — Mr Tewari said 11,308 schools remained shut for seven months.
The Judiciary was badly affected, he said, adding that as many as 459 habeas corpus petitions had been filed after August 5 and 6, which are pending in the courts.
The tourism business has additionally been hit, he said, adding that 1,000 house-boats remained vacant.
Mr Tewari said three former chief ministers had been arrested and Public Safety Act was slapped on them. He said veteran politician Farooq Abdullah was released after seven months and demanded immediate release of Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti also.
He lamented that agriculture sector as well as carpet industry was badly affected. (AGENCIES)
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