Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Mar 29: Seeking early restoration of statehood to J&K and installation of an elected govt, former minister Hash Dev Singh said that prolonged Central rule in the erstwhile state was a negation of the constitutional guarantees enshrined in the constitution of India.
He said that several assurances by the Central govt of restoring statehood to J&K at the appropriate time had failed to inspire the people of J&K who had lost faith in all such ‘melodramatic rants’ of the BJP leadership. He was addressing public meetings in Dhandhal and Bain villages of Chenani constituency today.
Addressing various gatherings, Harsh Dev Singh said while the people of the erstwhile state were mystified and befuddled by the abrupt abrogation of Article 370, they had expressed their strong opposition to the dismantling of 200 year old historical State of J&K and downgrading it to the level of UT. He said that such move of BJP led Government had not only lowered the morale of the people of erstwhile State but caused huge disenchantment in the hearts and minds of general masses.
“It was not a demotion of the State only. Infact, every sensible citizen felt downgraded and humiliated. It had deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of J&K who felt belittled and dwarfed”, Singh said.
“History bears testimony that J&K acceded to Union of India in 1947 only due to the historic decision taken by Maharaja Hari Singh despite numerous stumbling blocks, pulls and pressures. The demotion of State to UT level was not only unprecedented in the history but amounted to huge disparagement of the patriotic people of Jammu and Kashmir”, observed Singh.
Alleging continued neglect and deprivation of Jammu region even after abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, Singh said that BJP had failed to redeem any of its promises made to its electorates with majority of the development projects of State having been either stalled or abandoned.
Unemployed youth were on the roads. The only achievement of the BJP led Government after Article 370 abrogation appeared to be the installation of multiple Toll Plazas and opening of multiple liquor vends. He demanded early restoration of Statehood to J&K.
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