Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 12: Public Opinion Forum (POF) today organized a seminar on the topic, ‘Understanding Article 370’, by inviting learned speakers from different fields of life, including retired bureaucrats, businessmen, academicians and politicians.
Speakers divulged in details the technical aspects of the Article 370 vis-à-vis all three regions of the State. While the academicians and bureaucrats touched the legal implications of the Article, others unfolded the negative aspects of the most sought after thing in Jammu and Kashmir.
Former Member State Information Commission and Ex HoD, Department of Law, University of Jammu, Prof S K Sharma said that the State of J&K enjoys special status with regard to consultations before incorporating anything in the existing constitutional framework with the remarks that Centre enjoys ample powers to abrogate the Article 370.
Former president of the Bari Brahmana Industries Association, Anil Suri was of the views that if Lakhanpur tax (under special status with Article 370) remains there the important GST cannot be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, so the new regime will come with extra burden on the business. However, he said that State must adopt the GST with certain modifications.
Former Secretary/ Commissioner and Member J&K Public Service Commission, K B Jandyal said, “The State of J&K was accessed and not merged is the misconception in Kashmir. But one thing is certain that we are not out of the Union of India. Infact, J&K, like many other princely states, signed the same instrument of accession with similar conditions and constitutional provisions and the draft was approved by former Chief Minister, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.” He further said that it was clearly written in the Constitution of J&K that the ‘State is an integral part of India’.
Prof Varinder Gupta, former HoD Physics, JU, said that the so called special status has led to dual citizenship in the country.
Earlier, president of the Forum, Praveen Sharma formally welcomed the distinguished speakers, members of the POF and other prominent citizens. Vote of thanks was presented by vice president, V D Dogra while general secretary, Dr Gopal Parthasarthy, conducted the proceedings.
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