Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 20: As more and more people in Jammu are getting worried about the grave implications of the PDP-BJP alliance based on a written understanding enunciated in agenda of alliance, Jammu Lawyers Forum organized a seminar on ‘PDP-BJP Agenda of Alliance’ at Press Club here today.
Prominent lawyers of the Jammu province, members of civil society, opinion makers, academicians and political analysts participated in the seminar. Former Bar president B S Salathia, chairman of Jammu Lawyers Forum, presided over the deliberations.
In his address Mr Salathia expressed concern specifically about the manifest and written communal overtones of Agenda of Alliance. He said after reading the document of Agenda of Alliance he is worried about an attempt to fracture secular processes in the State and usher in an era of further radicalization of the entire State, particularly Jammu province. Salathia said that the agenda of alliance has deprived the people of Jammu region of their right to have due representation in the Legislative Assembly, as the 2002 Amendment to the Representation of Peoples Act clearly says that there could be delimitation of Assembly constituencies only after the 2031 census and that too, if the Government of the time would be willing to withdraw the anti-democratic amendment.
Prof Hari Om, senior leader and prominent opinion maker in Jammu said that Agenda of Alliance has crossed all constitutional limits and virtually declared Jammu and Kashmir not part of India. The very fact that the Agenda of Alliance has empowered the State Government to facilitate a dialogue between India and Pakistan and between India and the separatists clearly tantamount to conferring plenipotentiary powers on the State. PDP-BJP are almost visualizing J&K as a sovereign entity, he said and endorsed the suggestion of B S Salathia that Agenda of Alliance be withdrawn.
Senior advocate S S Lehar said in his presentation that the Agenda of alliance hampers the process of integration of the State with India and as such must be a music to the ears of separatists in Kashmir and Pakistan. It basically provides a locus standi to the separatism.
Panun Kashmir leader Dr Ajay Chrungoo said the Agenda of alliance is an attack on the sovereignty of India, secular integrity of the regions and license for further proselytisation in the State. It is an expression that Musharraf plan has not died but is continuing. He further explained that Hindus of Kashmir have been the frontal target of the Agenda of Alliance because the agenda seeks a reconciliation with communalism and separatism. Through Agenda of Alliance a formal commitment has been given to the communal forces operating in Kashmir valley that Kashmiri Hindu concerns will not be allowed to come in between a settlement with Pakistan, separatist forces in the state and the Government of India.
Almost all speakers, including advocates Chander Mohan Sharma, Advocate, P S Dutta, Z A Qazmi, made references to the unilateral ideological concessions offered by BJP to PDP for accepting them as alliance partners.
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