Regressive forces support, oppose the Maharaja simultaneously

WP refugee issue: Bloody agitation threatened --I

Rustam

                                                                                                                                  

JAMMU, Jan 13: Regressive forces in Kashmir are opposing and supporting Maharaja Hari Singh simultaneously. They are supporting him because he in 1927 introduced State Subject Definition with a view to preventing the outsiders from settling in Jammu & Kashmir and acquiring jobs under the state government. Maharaja Hari Singh had taken this step in the wake of the Kashmiri leadership's demand asking the state government to "import educated persons from Punjab and other parts of British India to man all important official positions in the state on the ground that the state already had sufficient educated persons. It was the Dogra Sadar Sabha of the time which had persuaded Maharaja Hari Singh to enact such a piece of legislation to defeat the move of the regressive and communal forces in the Kashmir Valley. The Kashmiri leadership had opposed tooth and nail the State Subject Definition and described it as a conspiracy against the people of Kashmir (barring the minorities like the Kashmiri Hindus).

The attitude of regressive forces in the Valley changed the day the Maharaja acceded Jammu & Kashmir to India. In fact, ever since 1947, the regressive forces in Kashmir, including all Kashmir-based parties and the so-called civil society groups plus commentators and reporters, have been opposing those demanding repeal of the State Subject Definition saying that such a move would be construed by them as a conspiracy against the followers of a particular religious group or members of a particular religious sect and that they will fight against the move with their blood. Even yesterday, they threatened a bloody agitation in case the state government goes in for an amendment in the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution to grant citizenship rights to the refugees from West Pakistan, mostly Dalits.

Taking a strong exception to the otherwise non-existent bill (on the refugee rights), a so-called Kashmir-based civil society group, Kashmir Centre for Social and Developmental Studies (KSCDS), yesterday described the non-existent bill as a "conspiratorial move and a direct attack on the unique ethnic character of the state (read the Valley proper)" and said, "Any erosion of this Article (State Subject Definition sanctioned by the State Constitution and protected by Article 370 of the Indian Constitution) will have disastrous consequences and will be fought against with blood by Kashmiris (read followers of a particular religion) as this is their only protection against being swamped by outsiders. "Besides being illegal and unconstitutional, it is an assault on our (read regressive forces in Kashmir) identity. All political parties in the state should come clear about this grave and sensitive issue without equivocating and politicizing…They must foil this evil attempt tooth and nail keeping in view the larger ramifications of the issue. Congress leaders are warned hereby to desist from carrying out a colonial project to please their masters in Delhi," the KSCDS also said. It, in addition, praised Maharaja Hari Singh and Kashmiri Hindus of the time who had, according to it, made the Maharaja adopt and implement the State Subject Definition.

The KSCDS through its outrageous statement sought to create an impression that the state government at the behest of certain Congress leaders and ministers like Raman Bhalla and Sham Lal Sharma will table a bill in the upcoming session of Jammu & Kashmir legislature and grant "State Subject rights to the West Pakistan refugees". This is a false and politically motivated propaganda. It's true that Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla had last week said that the government will amend the state constitution to grant domicile certificates to these struggling and suffering refugees, but he had gone back on his assurance when many Kashmiri leaders, both "mainstream" and separatist, opposed his solemn commitment. Going back on his promise, the under-attack Revenue Minister had said the West Pakistan refugees will get domicile certificates only after a consensus was evolved on the issue, something that will never happen considering the rabid opposition of the highly communal NC leadership to the otherwise very reasonable, secular and democratic demand. By opposing the refugee issue, the KSCDS, like others in Kashmir, only demonstrated its hatred for all, barring those belonging to the sect to which its members belong. (To be concluded).

Source: http://earlytimesnews.com/newsdet.aspx?q=103745