Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 10: After the Article 370 & 35-A have been abrogated and J&K State reorganized into two Union Territories (UTs), some Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Councillors have expressed resentment saying separate Jammu State and not UT was the demand of the region but women Councillors were jubilant as “daughters will now retain land ownership rights” even on marrying outside the State as “anti-women era” is over with the “end of Article 35-A”.
“These new developments will now increase our working area with increase in organizational structure of JMC,” said JMC Deputy Mayor, Purnima Sharma.
She also informed that powers of JMC may also increase now as per UT status and funds needed for development purposes will be easily available.
“All facilities with Municipal Corporations at par with other UTs like primary health, school education etc will automatically come here too,” Sharma said adding: “As 35-A has been quashed, so all its provisions have ceased. So the J&K girls marrying outside will now retain their property rights here.”
“The abrogation of Article 370 will usher new developments with new industries and other institutions coming here and our youth getting employment there,” said Sandhya Gupta JMC Councillor (of ward number 15) adding that abrogation of Article 370 was a long pending demand of Jammu people which has now been fulfilled.
However she said that it would be better if Jammu be made a separate State.
Commenting on the girls marrying outside J&K, Gupta said, “Now our daughters married outside can also buy land here. Earlier we had problems even in making State Subject certificates of our daughters-in-law but now it will not be required.”
“The new developments of abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A and reorganization of J&K into two UTs will boost employment in private sector here as many companies will visit J&K,” Nidhi Magotra, JMC Councillor of Ward number-17 said.
“Article 35-A was discriminatory towards J&K women as their land ownership rights used to cease on marrying outside. Now, the same will not happen and my sister married at Delhi can also buy land here,” she maintained.
A totally different comment came from another JMC Councillor, Sham Lal of ward number 48 who said that now they hope that J&K may have 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in employment and admissions in professional institutions which has not been available in J&K so far.
He also said that now delimitation of Assembly constituencies is immediately required to end regional discrimination with Jammu.
“While those in UTs demand status of State we in J&K have been degraded, as J&K has been made a UT,” said Gar Singh Chib, JMC Councillor of newly formed ward number 75.
“Rules made by Maharja were the best and there was no need to change them. Our coming generations will face problems now,” he claimed.
He also said that Dogras are mostly of 5“5` in height while the youth of other States are much taller.
“How can we now fight competition in recruitments? Our share in the government jobs will now decrease as the youth of other States are more qualified than us,” he maintained.
“While setting scores with Kashmir Modi government has hit Jammu badly. Jammu has been ditched,” he rued.
“Only girls marrying outside the J&K will be benefitted as they will retain their ownership rights on land even after their marriages,” Rajni Bala, JMC Councillor of ward number 60 said adding that apart from this there will be adverse consequences in other areas.
“Crime will increase here now. Look what is happening in Delhi. Every day we read news reports of heinous crimes taking place there,” she said.
“Earlier, whenever we go out of J&K, we used to feel proud of being from a special State but the same will not happen now,” Bala maintained.
She said that Himachal type arrangement were to be made here too wherein no outsider is allowed to buy land.
Rajni Bala also said that reservations in jobs for the locals of J&K should be there to tackle local unemployment problem.
Anu Bali, JMC Councillor from ward number 24 said she is happy that justice has been done to daughters of the State by the removal of Article 35-A.
“Now my daughter married outside can have her house here too,” she said.
She also said that now for jobs locals should be given priority and expressed optimism that “Modi Ji will surely do something in this regard.”
“Jammu should have been made a separate State and that was the long pending demand,” Inderjeet Kour, JMC Councillor of ward number 57 said.
“If they wanted to do something for the refugees and girls marrying outside they might have done the same by some amendment in the already existing laws and there was no need to abrogate Article 370 and 35-A for that,” she said adding that now crime and unemployment will increase in Jammu.
“J&K State has been demoted to UT,” Kour claimed.
“Kejriwal in Delhi is protesting everyday with demand of statehood from a UT while J&K has been made a UT from a State,” she maintained adding: “If Kashmir had done some wrong, why should be Jammu punished for that.”
“Again they have tied us with Kashmir which will again have lions share in funds and developmental projects,” Kour said adding that Jammu people have been deceived.
She claimed that the “adverse results” of these developments will emerge after 4-5 years.
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