Excelsior Correspondent
BILLAWAR, Dec 4: Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday said that the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir will be decided and shaped by the people of its three regions and not anyone coming and dictating from Gujarat.
“We are the masters of our own destiny”, Mr Rana declared while addressing a workers meeting here this afternoon.
Taking dig at the naivety demonstrated by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by messing up residency law of Jammu and Kashmir with Article 370, the Provincial President wished him to have done a little bit of homework before venturing upon to deliberate over this delicate issue. He said the state subject law was enacted by Maharaja Hari Singh in 1927 after a popular agitation in Jammu and Kashmir against the hegemony of non-state subjects in the State. “Article 370 has been a later development”, he said, adding that this is the least one could expect from a person, dreaming to become the Prime Minister of India, to know. “By raking up this issue, Mr Modi has exposed his vulnerability to history and ignorance about the national affairs”, he regretted.
Mr Rana advised Mr Modi to emulate Atal Behari Vajpayee, who distanced himself from even commenting over the sensitive issue of Article 370, knowing well that any attempt to trample this provision will weaken the relationship of Jammu and Kashmir with Indian dominion. He questioned the political wisdom of BJP in igniting the situation by pretending to be super nationalists and said the people of Jammu and Kashmir will not entertain their divisive, destructive and disruptive politics.
Cautioning people against the evil designs of frustrated political outfits, Mr Rana called upon them to maintain unity and foil all these machinations with courage and fortitude. He sought a decisive mandate for National Conference in 2014 elections, saying a stable and strong Government is pre-requisite for satiating political, economic and developmental issues of Jammu and Kashmir. “National Conference alone can meet the challenge of steering the state to peace and prosperity in view of its chequered history and presence in nook and corner of the State”, he maintained.
He also urged the people to remain vigilant against the peace inimical elements who may try to whip of communal and regional passions. “Just ahead of elections, they find religion in danger”, he said.
Mr Rana dwelt on the performance registered by the State under the stewardship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the past about five years and said that holding of Panchayat elections after 33 years demonstrated his deep urge for strengthening democracy at the grass roots level and involve the rural people in decision making process. He also referred to the revolutionary legislations like Right to Information and Public Services Guarantee Acts, saying these are aimed at empowering the people and making the administration responsive.
Addressing the workers, the former Minister and legislator, Babu Ram Pal and former MLA Th Kashmira Singh exhorted the people to strengthen the great movement of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah which stands for dignity and honour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of their religious and regional affiliations. They said that National Conference stands guarantee to inclusive development and peaceful atmosphere in the state.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
