Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Aug 8: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday pitched for maintaining State Subject Register and ousting of fake State subjects from Jammu and Kashmir.
“Identify and oust fake state subjects first and then talk about Article 35A”, Rana dared the BJP while addressing workers at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon.
He lashed at those dubbing defenders of Article 35A as anti-national, saying this amounts to challenging the democratic polity of the country, wisdom of the founding fathers of the Constitution of India and undermining the first President of Indian Republic, the legendary Babu Rajindera Prasad.
“How can Constitution of India, to which Article 35A is integral, be anti-national”, Rana asked, adding that the proviso is in fact manifestation and endorsement of 1927 enactment brought by Maharaja Hari Singh to protect the rights of the people and identity of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the land of Dogras, which was under severe threat by the prospect of affluent non-State subjects from the neighbouring States.
He said the Article 35A finds its genesis and germination in the Constitution of India, which is the solemn book of greatest democracy of the world.
Rana slammed the BJP for launching a misinformation campaign over the issue by making it Hindu versus Muslims and Jammu versus Kashmir, reiterating Article 35A is region and religion neutral. He exposed the dubious character of the BJP and said it has been working against the very idea of India under the garb of hyper nationalism.
The Provincial President said as long as National Conference flag is fluttering high across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Article 35A will remain part of the Constitution of India. “It reflects our identity; it allows us to shape our destiny and we cannot therefore let it go”, he declared amid huge applause and asked people to close their ranks for defending this constitutional provision.
Rana asked the BJP to have indepth study of the Constitution of India and update themselves how other parts of the country like Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Goa etc enjoyed special and unique status as per various sub sections (A to G) of Article 371.
He said Article 35A is more an identity of the Dogras of Jammu, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, than others which shall be preserved at all costs. He also took jibe on self-styled promoters of the Dogra culture and heritage for baking their political breads, saying most of them shy away from speaking Dogri or are not well versed with the language.
“It is only the Dogri Sanastha that has been working with sincerity of purpose for Dogri and Dogra heritage”, he added.
On the emancipation and empowerment of weaker sections of society, Rana said that National Conference has all along been in the forefront to ensure social justice and welfare of marginalized segments of the society. In this context he referred to the landmark Land Reforms Act brought by Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah and said this benefitted the weaker sections of society-the peasants, the backward classes, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe-the most. He said National Conference reflects the urges and aspirations of the marginalized segments of the State.
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