Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 8: Reacting to the demand of National Conference (NC) president, Dr Farooq Abdullah for restoration of Article 370 for “safeguarding our identity” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has blamed NC for betraying the people of the erstwhile State and held it responsible for failing to protect the much cherished identity of its citizens.
In fact despite differing identities of its people Jammu & Kashmir was known for its composite culture and identity, the tunnel-vision policy of NC leadership right from its inception as Muslim Conference, the party has not only ignored but discriminated against all other communities except one asserted Veteran Brig Anil Gupta spokesperson of the Party in a press release issued here, today.
During its rule of 60 years, NC took no measures to preserve and promote the Dogra or Ladakhi identities but instead left no stone unturned to damage and destroy their distinct history, heritage and culture as is evident from numerous forts and temples in ruins. The Gujjar, Bakarwal and other tribes were kept deprived of their genuine rights, Pahari identity was not recognised and the Kashmiri Pandits were hounded out of their homes and hearth under the threat of the gun. All this happened under the nose of NC when Article 370 was in vogue. It was never used to safeguard the identity and interests of its vast population but was used instead to keep them isolated from the rest of the country accused Brig Gupta.
Ironically, NC which was founded as an “anti-Maharaja” party is today using the legacy of the Maharaja to promote its narrow political interests. While the Maharaja as the sovereign ruler of a Princely State which shared borders with Tibet, Afghanistan, Xinjiang apart from British India was fully justified to issue royal proclamations to safeguard the interests of his subjects the same logic cannot be applied after the merger of the Princely State with democratic India.
Rather than apologising to the people of Jammu and Ladakh for the unfair treatment meted to them by his party when in power, Farooq Abdullah is once again trying to exploit their emotions by revoking the legacy of the Maharaja.
As regards the development is concerned the people are the best judge to see the glaring difference between the development that took place during the 60 year rule of NC and the last seven years. As regards jobs are concerned, Dr Abdullah has conveniently ignored the fact that all State Government jobs included gazetted are reserved for its people.
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