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Page6.Qxd (Page 1) SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2017 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Established 1965 Greater Autonomy: A Step Closer to Azadi? Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra K B Jandial Indian people should have no rights in Kashmir. To tution were also amended by the State legislature Chidambaram's flawed views are only Kashmir give consent to this proposal, would be a treacher- which is competent to do it like change of Sadr-i- centric having no regards for the nationalistic sen- fter long time, autonomy debate has come ous thing against the interests of India and I, as the Riayast and Wazir-i-Azam to Governor and Chief timents of Jammu and Ladakh regions which don't Setback to Saffron production to the centre stage of J&K and national polit- Law Minister of India, will never do it." Minister. This too cannot be called erosion. have such sentiment, his claim on overwhelming Aical discourse, mainly due to P Chi- Nehru was compelled to get it drafted from The off-repeated war cry of NC leadership of majority support notwithstanding. It can't be said dambaram's support for 'Greater Autonomy' for Gopalaswami Ayyangar in consultation with "erosion" of autonomy, the claim supported by about whole of Kashmir. He is insulting a vast affron production is a very old agricultural J&K, broadly calling 'azadi' seekers as autonomy exercise of Kashmir valley. In the entire Sheikh Abdullah and the Constituent Assembly many political leaders at national level including majority who don't subscribe to this sentiment. As supporters. Like a hot potato, the Congress party approved it as a temporary measure. This shows Chidambaram and some political analysts and Union Home Minister he could have experiment SKashmir valley, there is a specific area in immediately distanced itself from Chidambaram's that the provision which the then leadership of columnists, came under scrutiny of one of the three his revolutionary views but he couldn't even amend Pampore region, an alluvial land that is the only place controversial remark. Kashmir wanted didn't have the comfort of the best Working Groups on State -Centre relationship set AFSPAduring his tenure and let down Omar Abdul- Chidambaram's statement has opened up a Pan- constitutional brains of the country but Sheikh up by Manmohan Singh amidst 2010 Kashmir lah on this issue. where saffron is cultivated. The peculiarity of the soil dora Box with politicians of all hues joining the on which saffron is grown is exclusive to the area and Abdullah had his way. unrest that took over 120 lives. Justice (Retd.) Leave aside PM's outburst on Chidambaram's fray- for or against autonomy- cum -azadi for Talk of erosion of autonomy apart, question Sagheer Ahmed headed panel went into the issue azadi being politically motivated, equating azadi nowhere else in the valley the saffron is grown. In 'restive' J&K. While PM Modi didn't miss the arises who has snatched the autonomy? How can of erosion of autonomy but didn't agree with NC's seekers with autonomy supporter is terribly mis- opportunity to condemn the former Union Home ancient times saffron was one of the prime commodi- anybody take it away without amending Article contention. It recorded that the constitutional pro- placed if not mischievous or anti-national. Kash- Minister and a senior lawyer for batting for "aza- 370? How can it be eroded when the constitution- visions were applied following prescribed proce- miris are more politically sound than people of any ties that were carried along the famous Silk Route to di" seekers, Dr. Farooq Abdullah slammed one and al provision is followed in letter & spirit? Dr. Farooq dure with concurrence of duly elected/ constitution- other region. Their slogans of " Hum kya chatey different parts of the world. At one time it was the all- from Congress to Modi to Army Chief. While has arraigned its all time ally, Congress, for "ero- al state government of the day from time to time. hain- Azadi", "azadi ka matlab kya- Laila Illalah", mainstay of Kashmir economy. addressing the State-level NC convention, held sion of autonomy" and the Congress kept silent on In a democracy (despite its all deficiencies), the after 15 years on Sunday last (29th October), he " Pakistan se rishta kya- Laila Illalah", " Pakistan Saffron production is an art and the farmers who this criticism even though the unsavory debate has government represents the popular will of the peo- Zindabad" and "Indian dogs go back" do not even said, "the present dispensation thinks that they will been initiated by a senior congressman only. One ple. have been carrying the profession of saffron cultiva- crush Kashmiris with force.'' "No force can forcibly remotely indicate that slogan mongers' would has to understand Article 370 in right perspective In terms of Indira-Sheikh accord of 1975 that remain part of this great secular nation even if tion from generation to generation are adepts in the muzzle the voice of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and not what one may think it otherwise to suit one's led to return of Sher-i-Kashmir to mainstream pol- and Ladakh," he thundered. autonomy is restored. If it is so simple then why he art. It is a purple coloured flower that blooms in late perception. itics, Sheikh Abdullah had set up a 7-member cab- as Home Minister and his Congress party led UPA The autonomy-cum-azadi slugfest had first inet sub-committee headed by the then Dy. CM, autumn and is picked by hand and then treated in a causality: the Hurriyat leadership that was main- didn't resolve the long pending matter by taking STRAIGHT TALK Mirza Afzal Beig to review all laws and provisions J&K back to 1953? way known to the farmers. We gave reports that this taining studded silence on Modi Govt's appoint- extended to the state after 1953(Sheikh's ouster) ment of ex- IB Chief Dineshwar Sharma for dia- Congress has been accused of committing blun- year the saffron production will fall by about 90 per Article 370 has three important provisions. One and to report whether operation of any such was ders in Kashmir right from the moment of accept- logue with all stakeholders rejected engagement part ( Art 370 cl-1(b) sub cl (i)) restricts the legisla- detrimental to the interest of the State. It was asked cent which will be a big setback to the economy of with him. It took a pot shot on PM Modi for his ing Instrument of Accession. Why a strange letter the State and to the income of individual farmers. The tive power of the Parliament to the subjects of the to submit the report within 15 days, the deadline was sent to Maharaja to ascertain the wishes of the strong reaction to Chidambaram's suggestion of Union and Concurrent lists corresponding to the not met. In the meanwhile, Sheikh sacked Beig reason given by the farmers is that the Government 'greater autonomy' to Kashmir and said that Delhi people of the state when peace returns? Why the matters specified in the schedule of the Instrument from the cabinet and himself became its Chairman marching columns of Indian army were stopped did not provide irrigation facilities at proper time has rejected restoration of autonomy which is guar- of Accession on November 16, 1978. But he could not spare time anteed by its own (Indian) constitution. from vacating the rest of the captured territory of which caused damage to the crop. The second important part (cl-1(b) sub cl (ii)) from more pressing issue for it, he made his Min- the State in 1947? Why Pt Nehru took the issue to At Rajkot, Gujarat while interacting with media empowers the President of India to bring more sub- ister, D.D.Thakur, former Judge of J&K High Actually in 2010 the Mission Saffron was launched persons his views on Kashmir were sought and his UNO and internationalized Kashmir issue? Why jects in these lists under Parliament jurisdiction Court, it's Chairman. Getting very late on this issue, Sheikh Abdullah was arrested in 1953 and charged by the State Government with the collaboration of the take was, "My interaction in J&K led me to the con- with the concurrence of State Govt. It means that if Thakur himself went into the entire gambit and sub- clusion that when they ask for Azadi, mostly, I am with sedition in 1953 to be withdrawn later on and Union Government. A sum of rupees 400 crore was J&K Govt concurs more subjects can be brought mitted his report on July 18, 1981 which is a reinstalled as CM in 1975? Why were the captured not saying all… the overwhelming majority, they under the legislative competence of the Parliament. described as a lucid exposition of law. allotted to modernization and improvement of saffron strategic points of West Pakistan in 1965 war like want autonomy." He feels that the question of The third part (Art 370 cl-1(c & d)) relates to However, G N Kochak, member of the Com- Haji Pir returned? Why Indira Gandhi from the cultivation in Kashmir. But as ill luck would have it, greater autonomy should be seriously considered application of Art 1 and 370 to J&K. But more Arti- mittee showed his reservations on Thakur's recom- position of strength failed to force crest fallen Bhut- the scheme instead of proving a boon to the saffron and in which area it should be granted. Chi- cles of Constitution can be extended to J&K but mendations and submitted his report on April 11, to to finally settle Kashmir issue at Shimla before dambaram feels that most of the 'azadi' seekers are, with the concurrence of the State Govt with such 1982.
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