Mahesh Chander Sudan
We, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, have witnessed celebration of fortnight (Pakhwara) commencing on 05 Aug 2020 till 20 Aug 2020 that culminated with a musical program at Party Headquarters located at Trikuta Nagar Jammu for commemorating revocation of special status granted to state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. The musical event was sufficiently covered by local print media but strangely there is no mention of the most important development with regard to reorganization of the erstwhile state of J&K into two union territories. The constitutional modification carried out for removal of special status and the reorganization of state were discussed and passed with majority in both the houses of parliament before it is sent for consent of the President of India to meet the requirement of the time in the interest of discriminated population. It is appreciated that the present members of the Parliament have addressed the issue cutting across their party lines and performed their duty towards these honorable citizen of India. It however conveys that local leaders of the BJP have selected consciously to exclude conversion of then State of J&K into two union territories as part of celebration to respect sentiment of people of JK and it acknowledges the fact that unilateral decision of the Union Government is not being appreciated favorably across the UT.
* The mere celebration of the event by cadre of BJP during ongoing pandemic in reality defeats the purpose of these unprecedented historical events and conveys a sense of alienation in the mind of ordinary citizens towards local leaders of the party. It would have attracted more public participation by organizing small sessions on local media to educate people about healthy effects of these changes on their day to day life to instill a sense of confidence amongst commoners and help generating mass acceptance of new provisions for arresting frequently raised voices for restoration of special status and statehood. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have lived with special status and autonomous state structure even during English empire and they are proud to be the resident of only state of pre independent India. Rather than holding musical programme in a COVID restricted environment, the occasion deserved more appropriate events like blood donation or plasma donation to help affected patients that would have created positive mass appeal for senior cadre leaders reviving a withering wave for the party. To be very practical, there is hardly any visible change in the life of local people except for cosmetic provisions like Issue of Domicile Certificate to all citizens of the UT despite having held PRC (Permanent Resident Certificate) popularly called State Subject. Issue of said Domicile Certificate also faces public criticism for inherited deficiencies, official apathy towards online applicants, least respect towards fixed time lines and above all rampant corruption in the revenue department.
* The controversial issuance of Domicile Certificates with couple of inherited deficiencies nullifies expected acceptance of the only acclaimed achievement of Union Government by people of JK during last ten months since formation of UT. There is no change in the quality of life in terms of new avenues for business, employment, education and most critical health infrastructure. No significant change apparently is visible in terms of relief to common man on street. A wide political vacuum emerged out of suspended political activity paving way for deep disconnect between ruler and the ruled.
* In fact holding such function to highlight various initiatives of the administration for welfare of the state and its residents as expected in the present COVID constrained environment create mass appreciation and clears prevalent uncertainty. We, the people of JK, are anxious to know about long term development plans of Union dispensation to improve the quality of life, employment opportunity for youths, exploitation of abundant natural resources especially creation of multipurpose hydro projects like Salal, (Reasi), good road and rail infrastructure to attract investment by Indian and Foreign corporates, reviving old health tourism to exploit favorable geographical natural assets and it would not only create job opportunity for local residents but instill a sense of confidence amongst them. An ordinary citizen of India is hardly interested to differentiate between a state and Union Territory unless he is not discriminated. India is a democratic set up with federal structure and our constitution advocates division of powers between states and the union to provide equal opportunity to each and every citizen without any discrimination of caste, creed and sex.
It may be appreciated that such constitutional modifications are made at appropriate time in the interest of the administrative wellbeing of the state and do not allow any proprietary right to any political party in specific and are aimed to further the general welfare of the commoners who actually own the state at large. Most appropriately, these events may not be held for the musical entertainment of the political leaders and their cadre but to help the Government machinery in educating people about various welfare measures to create public awareness and involvement in successful implementation. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
The author is Wg Cdr (Retd)
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