Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 7: On an invitation from defence forces, Maj Gen (Retd) S K Sharma, Director Academics, Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu and President, Forum for Awareness of National Security, J&K, conducted a JK specific awareness programme for the Defence officers.
Topic of the lecture was `Article 370 and its impact on national security’. It was attended by officers from Army, Air Force and Navy.
Gen Sharma recalled that on 5th August 2019, when the Article 35A as well as the portions of Article 370 were removed in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 368 of the Constitution, 125 Rajya Sabha members approved it with only 61 voting against it. “That showed the willingness of the nation to scrap the special provisions in these Articles which were originally meant to be temporary, he added.
The national security aspects were covered in details and the effects seen on ground since 5 Aug 2019 were discussed in details. The participants posted in J&K and now part of this awareness programme gave very encouraging developments happening in the State. They observed that reduction in recruitment of terrorists on instigation of Pakistan was clearly visible besides drastic reduction in terror activities while JK Police force has become more responsive and tackling a sizable number of the terrorist activities themselves without taking help of paramilitary forces and the Army. Further, they added, Army and paramilitary forces are operating freely without any hindrance from the local public while stone pelting on belt forces has reduced considerably.
Some participants felt that India’s position in dealing with Chinese forces has become strong by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A. “It is now at an advantageous position to negotiate with PLA from a position of equivalence. Besides this, the citizens who were deprived fundamental rights in J&K were the gainers. They are the daughters of J&K persons who married outside J&K, West Pakistan Refugees, Gorkha residents whose forefathers served in J&K Army prior to 1947 and the Punjabi Balmiki families which were invited in J&K in 1957,” they added.
In the end, the Coordinating Officer stressed that this type of awareness programme should be conducted for all defence officers posted in J&K as it will help them deal with local public effectively when they are called in aid of civil authorities.
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