P.O.BOX 5728 SRT NAGAR, NEW DELHI 110055 (BHARAT); Email : [email protected] No. Sm1405/2071 (For Private Circulation Only) Jyeshth Shukla 4, Vik Samvat 2071. Yugabda 5116 Tel: 91-11- 23684445; Fax: 91-11-23517722 1 June 2014 1. FESTIVALS: in 3. DAWN OF HOPE BEGINS: When Narendra takes place on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya Damodardas Modi took oath as Pradhan Mantri at corresponding to June 29 this year. On this day the bustling forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra and on Monday, the 26 th May, it was a historic come out of their abode and proceed to occasion for the man of the moment, the BJP, and Gundicha Mata temple. After resting eight days in most importantly, for Bharat. In his first message , Bhagwan Jagannatha returns to to the nation after taking oath, Modi said, “On his main abode. This day is known as Bahuda 16th May, 2014, the people of Bharat gave their Yatra or Return Yatra and is observed on Dashami verdict. They delivered a mandate for Tithi. During Bahuda Yatra Lord makes a short development, good governance and stability.” stoppage at Mausi Maa temple which is dedicated He went on to add, “As we devote ourselves to to Goddess Ardhashini. Ratha Yatra is also take Bharat’s development journey to newer observed at all major temples world over. heights, we seek your support, blessings and active 2. 13-YEAR-OLD FROM AP BECOMES participation. Together we will script a glorious YOUNGEST GIRL TO SCALE EVEREST: future for Bharat. Let us together dream of a Malavath Purna, a tribal student from Nizamabad strong, developed and inclusive Bharat that district in Andhra Pradesh, created history on May actively engages with the global community to 25 by becoming the youngest girl in the world to strengthen the cause of world peace and scale the Mount Everest. She pitched the Bharatiya development.” flag at 6.00am and was closely followed by 4. 3rd YEAR TRAINING CAMP OF RSS at Sadanapalli Anand, a 17-year-old student from Nagpur is being attended by 717 swayamsevaks in Khammam district. the age group of 18-40 from all over the country. This is the first time that two poor tribal students RSS Sahsarkaryavah Dr Gopal, while from remote areas of Andhra Pradesh braved one inaugurating the camp on May 19 in Nagpur said of the world's most unfriendly terrains. Anand and that the stream of volunteers trained there has Purna are both students of Andhra Pradesh Social spread the work of RSS in their respective regions Welfare Residential Schools (APSWRS). Purna is in the country and even abroad bringing various a student of class IX in Thadwai APSWRS. Her cross sections of the society together under the parents are daily wage workers. Extremely good in Hindu identity. He said this happened to be the studies and extracurricular activities, she grabbed karma bhoomi of RSS founder Dr Hedgewar, and the opportunity by undergoing a four-stage his successor Shri Guruji, who toiled hard and screening test. During the training programme, braved many adverse conditions to nurture the Purna got 'A' grade by climbing Kanchenjunga RSS in entire country and outside Bharat. It is for and she was finally selected for the Everest. She this very reason, Nagpur is considered as an along with Anand began the hike on April 4 from important pilgrim centre for every swayamsevak. Kathmandu. This is the place where the swayamsevaks are "We are happy that she has set the world record. groomed to shoulder various responsibilities in the We know she will go places. She is not only bright social life of the country and dedicate themselves in academics, but also in adventure," Purna's in the man-making and nation-building mission of parents said. RSS. 1

5. 18-YEAR-OLD BHARATIYA STUDENT 8. PINAKA ROCKETS: Bharat on May 29 CHOSEN FOR ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION: successfully test-fired the indigenously-built Zareen Cheema was barely eight when she first Pinaka rockets from a defence base in . saw photographs of aurora australis in all its glory. Three rounds of rockets were fired from the multi- Since then, it has been her dream to see the barrel rocket launching system (MBRLS) at the phenomenon in person. That desire paved the way Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) in for the now 18-year-old's selection as the only Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore district, around 230 Bharatiya student in the December expedition to km from state capital Bhubaneswar. Capable of Antarctica. firing 12 rockets in a single salvo with 1.2 tonnes 'Students on Ice', a research-based expedition to of explosives within 40 seconds, the Pinaka the icy continent, aims at educating students about system has already been inducted into the armed global issues such as climate change. The Pune forces and was used in the field during the 1999 girl is also the youngest and among the 44 Kargil war. Bharatiyas out of 705 people selected from around 9. BHARATIYA AMERICAN WINS the world in Round 2 of the one-way manned NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BEE: Akhil mission to Mars, popularly known as Mars One. Rekulapelli, a 13 year-old eighth grader from 6. VIJNANA BHARATI ORGANISED northern Virginia’s Loudoun County, is the winner SCIENCE FAIR AT HYDERABAD: of the 2014 National Geographic Bee. Rekulapelli Bhagyanagar unit of Vijnana Bharati organised a emerged as the victor of the Bee’s 26th annual science camp at Sishu Mandir, iteration on May 21, beating out competitors from Badangapet for children studying from 6th to 12th each state and territory in the US. His win as the standard from May 16 to 18. Inaugurating the national Geographic Bee champion continues a camp, Shyam Prasad, coordinator, Vijnana streak of Bee dominance displayed by Bharatiya Bharati, Andhra Pradesh stressed on the American students, who have also regularly importance of developing scientific solutions to topped the Scripps National Spelling Bee in recent medical health care and looking at job creation. years, too. Rekulapelli will represent the nation at The students had the opportunity to experiment the International Geographic Bee, which will take with more than 50 experiments on physical place in Monaco later this year. sciences. The topics covered were sound, optics, 10. LOOTED STATUES COME HOME: magnetism, electronics and Thermodynamics. Sandstone figures packed into crates returned to 7. HINDU FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES Cambodia on May 28. The Kingdom welcomed TEACHERS: Teachers from the Simi Valley, the repatriated 11th-century statues with little Moorpark, Conejo Valley and Oak Park school fanfare, a remarkably placid homecoming given districts in California USA were recognized on the lengthy legal battle with auction house Teachers Appreciation Day on May 10 in Simi Sotheby's and the enlivened conversation with a Valley on behalf of Hindu Education Foundation. California art museum that led to their return. While Dr. Amrit Ram from SVYASA Yoga The Duryodhana and the Bhima, which depict University, presented a demonstration on Yoga , opposing Hindu warrior figures that were locked Chetan Gandhi, a Hindu minister and councilor, in a mythic battle, were displayed at the Prasat discussed the significance of a teacher and yoga in Chen Temple in Siem Reap before being hacked enhancing the quality of life for individuals. from their pedestals and moved through the Students presented a mosaic of cultural programs antiquities black market in the 1970s. Over the with elements from Bharatiya classical dance, past three years, Cambodian officials and art martial arts, folk dances and yoga. About 100 researchers have traced seven of the Prasat Chen's people attended the event. nine statues to collections in the US. 2

11. DRDO GETS SUPERSONIC MISSILE Divi’s Labs. ABB India is ranked 37th, with an SIMULATOR: Bharat has joined an exclusive enterprise value of $2.7 billion (`15,787 crore) and club of four countries that can test payloads for innovation premium of 56.4%. The list has been missile and rocket technology by simulating a made on the basis of innovation premium, a flight environment on the ground. Terminal measure of how much investors have bid up the Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL), a DRDO stock price of a company above the value of its lab in Chandigarh, has indigenously developed the existing business, based on expectations of future facility known as the Rail Track Rocket Sled Penta innovative results (new products, services and Rail Supersonic Track. It is a 4km track where markets). trials are conducted. Some confidential tests have 14. 400-YR-OLD STOLEN IDOLS already been conducted on this range, which REAPPEAR POST-QUAKE: Even as panic- include recovery of crew capsules in manned struck people were making frantic efforts in space mission. Bhubaneswar to get out of their residential 12. GUJARAT'S 'RANI KI VAV' TO BE buildings when the earthquake struck on May 21 DIGITALLY RECREATED IN UK: One of night, some miscreants while trying to shift nine Gujarat's monuments — Rani ki Vav (The Queen's antique idols hidden at a place to an undisclosed Stepwell) — is among five international heritage location dropped them near Phirphira Bridge. sites to be replicated digitally using latest The idols of Lord Radhakrishna worth crores of technology in Scotland. It is part of a project rupees, said to be of 400-year-old, were stolen called The Scottish Ten — an ambitious five-year- from the Shree Kishore Jew temple in Niali area in programme to create accurate digital models of Cuttack on May 6. The idols had fallen on the road Scotland's five UNESCO-designated World after the bag tore off while those were being Heritage Sites and five international heritage sites carried by the culprits on a bike minutes after the in order to better conserve and manage them. A earthquake. team from Historic Scotland and Glasgow's 15. RSS PRACHARAK CHANDRASHEKAR School of Art travelled to Gujarat's Patan town last BHANDARI TO RECEIVE KARNATAKA August and digitally imaged every corner of Rani STATE GOVT AWARD : Noted writer, veteran ki Vav. scholar, Senior RSS Pracharak Chandrashekar The Vav is not widely known outside Bharat and Bhandari is to receive Karnataka state Govt’s currently sits on the UNESCO tentative World reputed Kuvempu Bhasha Bharati Award for Best Heritage List. By digitally documenting stepwell Translators for the year 2011 for his translation for the project, Scotland hopes to bring the site to work on Dattopant Thegandi’s Book ‘Saamajika a much wider audience and raise both its national Kranti Dr BR Ambedkar‘, a book on Dr BR and international profile. Ambedkar. 13. 9 BHARATIYA FIRMS IN FORBES’ 79 year old Chandrashekar Bhandari is known for MOST INNOVATIVE GROWTH his great contributions for RSS and related COMPANIES LIST: As many as nine Bharatiya publications. He has penned several books, firms have made it to the Forbes World’s 100 most translated books and poems and also himself innovative growth companies list. Godrej composed several patriotic poems. Among his Consumer Products is ranked 31st globally with an poems, ‘Dharegavatariside Swargada spardhiyu enterprise value of $4.25 billion (Rs 24,850 crore) sundara taynelavu’, was selected by state govt and and an innovation premium of 58.7%. Other adopted as a patriotic song for upper primary Bharatiya firms on the list include ABB India, schools. Shri Bhandari who is a prachark for last Marico, United Breweries, Siemens India, Asian 54 years now has the responsibility of Akhil Paints, Nestle India, Colgate Palmolive India and Bharatiya Sahitya Parishat for Karnataka. 3

16. BRITISH MP COMPLAINS TO ‘HINDU the activities of Sangh along with eminent and PHOBIC’ BBC COVERAGE : Recently, while committed swayamsevaks like Pt Deendayal covering Bharatiya elections on BBCs Newsnight Upadhyaya, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Sunder Singh programme on 16 th May, well known Bhandari, Barister Narendrajit Singh, etc. Hinduphobe William Dalrymple went to its 18. BOOK ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN extremes labeling BJP prime ministerial candidate AHMEDABAD RIOTS IS ‘SET ASIDE’ BY Naraendra Modi as mass murderer. British MP PUBLISHER: A letter written by Dina Nath from Withham and Prime Minister’s UK Indian Batra, whose civil suit led to the pulping of Diaspora Champion Priti Patel wrote a strong Wendy Doniger’s book on , has now led letter condemning the attacks on Modi to the head to the “setting aside” of a publication on violence of the BBC Lord Tony Hall Director General of against women in communal riots in Ahmedabad. BBC. She mentioned that many in the British Publisher Orient Blackswan, which recently Bharatiya community, particularly those of released Communalism and Sexual Violence: Gujarati origin, were offended by the reporting Ahmedabad Since 1969 and put it up for sale on about Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi. From its website in April 2014, has written to author Dr the beginning of the broadcast, Modi was Megha Kumar saying the book needs portrayed by the presenter, Yalda Hakim, as a “comprehensive assessment” and should be set “controversial figure.” Modi’s political aside “for the present”. opponents have portrayed him as being In the letter dated May 16, Orient Blackswan told ’controversial’, so by using this reference, the Kumar, an Oxford-based Rhodes scholar, that BBC, who should be impartial, is giving Batra’s lawyer had written to them in April acceptance to the political position of Modi’s complaining that another book published by them opponents rather than reporting objectively. and in print for more than 10 years, the popular The term ‘controversial’ could be used to textbook Plassey to Partition: A History of describe a large number of politicians, which is Modern India by Sekhar Bandopadhyay, was why many people in Britain’s Bharatiya defamatory and derogatory to the RSS. community believe its use purely in relation to In the light of that notice, Orient Blackswan wrote, Modi in the news item was unbalanced. a “pre-release assessment of books that might 17. VETERAN PRACHARAK ANANT attract similar reactions” was being undertaken, RAMCHANDRA GOKHALE IS NO MORE: suggesting that Kumar’s book had not been Veteran Sangh Pracharak Anant Ramchandra released so far. The publisher cited worries of Gokhale, passed away at Lucknow, on May 25. He legal proceedings and also of exposing “staff and was 96. He was unwell for some time. families” of authors and publishers to “the risk of Popular as Gokhaleji among the swayamsevaks, violence, endangering their life and safety”. he lived a highly disciplined life and set many 19. PANDHARPUR TEMPLE ALLOWS precedents before the swayamsevaks through his WOMEN, MEN OF ALL CASTES AS daily conduct. Despite growing age and weakness PRIESTS: The temple administration of this 900 he was reluctant to get anybody’s help from year old temple in Maharashtra has interviewed cleaning the room to washing his clothes. women and those from outside the Brahmin Born in 1918 at Khandava of Madhya Pradesh, he community for appointing them as priests. The came in contact of RSS and became swayamsevak Vitthal Temple Trust (VRTT), which in 1938 at Dhantoli Shakha of Nagpur, and came functions under the Maharashtra government, has in contact with Dr Hedgewar at Reshim Bagh made the radical move possible. "For the first Shakha the same year. He finally came out as time, a temple is throwing open its doors to Sangh Pracharak in 1942. He played a key role in everyone. We thought it was time now for us to set 4 an example. No group should claim monopoly for target audience. In order to change the situation serving as priests in the temple," Anna Dange, and also to bring Bharatiya model of development chairman of the trust, said. "Thousands of people in reality with active participation of people, Pune converge here every year. People love Vitthoba based YOJAK Centre for Research and Strategic and Rakhumai [as lord Vitthal and his consort Planning for Sustainable Development has come Rukmini are called locally]. The Gods did not out with a unique idea, which can really reshape discriminate between people; it's time we followed the destiny of villagers. With the help of some suit." voluntary organisations in Central India’s 20. BHARATIYA AIRPORTS NOW Maharashtra and Gujarat regions it has created a AMONGST WORLD'S BEST SERVICE band of educated youth who instead of migrating PROVIDERS: New Delhi's Indira Gandhi to cities for jobs owned the responsibility of International Airport (IGIA) and Mumbai's developing their respective villages. During the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) last three years, YOJAK and its associated have found place in the top five of the best service voluntary organisations have mobilised over 2,300 quality providers in the world. youth, mostly Vanvasis, to take up this challenge. While IGIA has been adjudged as the second best The man leading this silent revolution is Dr in the 25-40 million passengers per annum Gajanan Dange, national president of YOJAK. (MPPA) category in the world in the Airports The Vanvasi region of Central India, beginning Council International's (ACI) airport service from Southern Gujarat to West Bengal, is among quality (ASQ). CSIA is the fifth best in the list. the highly underdeveloped regions. About three Even Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International years back, YOJAK started a project, Madhya Airport (RGIA) has won the second best service Bharat Vananchal Samriddhi Yojna, to change the quality award in the 5-15 MPPA category. development scenario in this region. Mobilising 21. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Shri and empowering some voluntary organisations, it Shyam Parande, Secretary Sewa International will started studying the existed methods of tour Australia and Malaysia in June. Visitors: development including their impact on natural Saureen Shah USA, Ashwin and Hemant – resources. The second aspect of the study was how Mauritius. to take corrective steps that can meet the local FOOD FOR THOUGHT: For each and every needs. Third was implementation of the new person, our Lord and Master provide sustenance. sustainable approach. Following the ideals of Why are you so afraid, O mind? The flamingos fly Pandit Deendayalji, who said development should hundreds of miles, leaving their young ones be based on janchetana (local conscience) and the behind. Who feeds them, and who teaches them to government’s role should be of just a guide, feed themselves? Have you ever thought of this in motivator and supporter, YOJAK emphasised on your mind? - Guru Nanak this Bharatiya concept of development purely focusing on the needs and aspirations of the JAI SHREE RAM people of this region. The model is being implemented with the help of THE TRENDSETTER: NEW DRIVERS voluntary organisations working on ground by OF DEVELOPMENT mobilising local youth through Yuva Chetna The biggest drawback with the present model of Jagran Programmes. Before organising such development is that it has failed to ensure public programmes, the organisations' activists met local participation in planning and execution of youth and motivated them to join the programme. development projects. This is the reason majority During discussions they also tried to know what of the projects fail to cater to the needs of the corrective steps they want in their areas. During 5 the study it was found that majority of the The exhibition also displayed how the indigenous educated youth want to stay in their respective seeds can be preserved and used. villages, if provided better knowhow and help to Both these events were also attended by some live a meaningfullife. In order to help the selected achievers who have done wonderful work for rural youth understand the whole concept, the first Yuva development. In Nandurbar, the villagers who Chetna Jagran Programme was organised at Krishi stopped a river at 18 places and changed the Vigyan Kendra Nandurbar, Maharashtra, on farming system in the entire area were invited. October 1, 2013. The programme was held with Similarly, in Songarh a community representative the help of five organisations—Dr Hedgewar who is managing forest based livelihood Sewa Samiti, Deendayal Vanvasi Sewa Sanstha, programme was invited. Many similar successful Eklavya Adivasi Sewa Sanstha, Bahuddeshiya experiments were displayed before them. Birsa Munda Adivasi Sewa Sanstha and Vanvasi After analysing the information provided by the Utkarsh Samiti. Prior to the programme, all these youth during the events, YOJAK started work on organisations had deeply studied Nandurbar region providing them technological support through for several months. local partners. Every individual case is being A total of 1,500 youth had expressed their desire studied by experts. If somebody is involved in in writing to stay in their villages and sought cotton production, he has to be helped in that way. guidance for taking up activities. Finally, 1,003 “Since the Kharif season is beginning from June youth turned to the programme on their own we have started imparting them training as to how expenses. They were first apprised of the work they can increase production. The work has begun being done by the associated voluntary at rapid pace,” points out Dr Dange. organisations. Then they were told that the “An army of 2,300 youth has already started problems which they find are basically the fighting against the faulty model of development. problems of all 6 lakh villages. In the third session They are serious to take it to new heights. They they were apprised of the successful projects of are visiting the projects already going on in their rural development going on in their regions. They regions to have first hand and practical were also told about the availability of technology knowledge. In Nandurbar, the youth were apprised for resolving their problems. At a session they of the work being done in Baripada Village where were administered an oath for taking up the villagers preserved a forest of 1,100 acre. Now developmental activity in their villages. In the last youth from eight villages have visited that village session, their responsibility towards their villages to see and study the work. This shows the post and family was reintegrated through 'Kartavya programme enthusiasm among these youth. Bodh'. The participants returned home with When asked how the idea of starting this renewed vigour and hope. experiment clicked, Dr Dange says: “While Another similar function was held in Songarh in visiting village to village in central India during Tapi district of Southern Gujarat on March 13, the last several years we realised that participation 2014. Hosted by Dr Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan of people in present process of development is Trust, Surat, the function was supported by Dang very less. It is due to the lack of ownership spirit Vikas Parishad, Sarvamangal Trust and Manasi among local people that the impact of majority Vikas Sanstha also. It was attended by 1,300 projects is minimal. We met many officials who youth. too are worried over it. Our overall objective is to At both the events, an exhibition was organised increase the people's participation in development highlighting the local knowhow. Basically, the process.” instruments which can reduce the drudgery in The experiment has given a new dimension to farming activities were prominently displayed. rural development process, where the people think 6 they should not continue to depend upon the healthcare, good education etc., for the masses and government agencies for resolving their issues raises their standard of living. rather they have to be drivers in development. This (http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/satyam- can go a long way in curbing migration from rural bruyat/article-370-a-personal-view/ ) areas to cities in search of jobs. (Organiser Weekly, June 8 2014) SOME SALIENT FACTS ABOUT ARTICLE 370 ARTICLE 370 – A PERSONAL VIEW M G Vaidya Markandeya Katju 1. Article 370 is a part of our Constitution. A Kashmiri political leader recently gave a veiled 2. It is included in part XXI, the title of which threat that if Article 370 of the Constitution is is “Temporary, Transitional and Special repealed Kashmir will secede from India. Another Provisions”. Kashmiri political leader said that amnesty should The heading of Article 370 is worded as be granted to stone pelters in Kashmir. All this has “Temporary provisions with respect to the State of been shown recently on television. Jammu and Kashmir”. My own view is that whether Article 370 is Our Constitution came into effect from 26th deleted or not, whether stone pelters are granted January 1950. The special provisions envisaged by amnesty or not, Kashmir ( or any other state in Article 370, have been amended from time to India) must never be allowed to secede from India. time. The erosion has started from 1954. 1954 is In this connection, it may be pointed out that important because in 1953, Shaikh Mohmed Article 1(1) of the Indian Constitution states that Abdullah, a very close friend of our first Prime India is a ‘Union of States’. Thus, India is not a Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was arrested and confederation but a union of states. Hence no state put behind bars. Of course all these amendments has a right to secede from it, and the union is were endorsed by the J&K State assembly. indissoluble. The following changes were made by these If Kashmir has the right to secede, then Nagaland, provisions: Mizoram, Tamilnadu, etc., may also claim the (a) In 1954, the laws and rules of departments of same right. What then will happen to India ? It Customs, Central Excise, Civil Aviation and Post will be broken into pieces. This must never be & Telegraph were made applicable to the State. allowed. (b) In 1958, the Centre could appoint IAS and When the southern states of USA claimed the right IPS officers in the State. So also the State came to secede, and in 1861 formed their own under the authority of the CAG. government (the Confederate States of America) (c) In 1959, the Central Census law was applied. President Abraham Lincoln declared that they will (d) In 1960, the Supreme Court got the appellate not be allowed to secede, and he went to war on power to review the judgments of the J&K High this issue. Similarly, we must never allow any Court. state in India to secede, and must maintain our (e) In 1964, Articles 356 and 357 were made unity at any cost. applicable to the State. We all know that the As regards the Kashmir problem, I have said Article 356 empowers the President, in case of several times that the only solution to the Kashmir Constitutional breakdown in the State, to assume problem is reunification of India, Pakistan and all or any of the functions of the Government. It Bangladesh under a strong, secular, modern means that the Presidential rule will be there. And minded government which does not tolerate Article 357 gives to the President’s nominee i.e. religious extremism of any kind.and works hard to the Governor to exercise the powers of the State abolish poverty, unemployment, lack of Legislature also. 7

(f) From 1965 all the Central laws pertaining to It is true that there is a proviso viz. “the labour unions, Social Security, Insurance etc were recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of made applicable to the State. the State referred to in clause (2) shall be (g) In 1956, the people of the State got the right necessary before the President issues such a to send their elected representatives to the Lok notification.” But is the Constituent Assembly of Sabha. the State in existence? How can a dead institution (h) In 1966 itself the State Assembly made an give its approval? Besides Art 370 is a temporary amendment in the Constitution of the State by provision and therefore should not be made a which, the titles of Vazir-e-Azam and Sadar-e- permanent feature. Riyasat were changed to the Chief Minister and It is to be admitted that Article 370 has became a the Governor as in other States. sentimental issue, for the leaders of the Kashmir (i) In 1969, in cases related to the election, the Valley. But the State consists of other two regions Supreme Court got the appellate authority over the also viz. a) Jammu and b) Laddakh. The decisions of the State High Court. sentiments of the people of these two regions (j) In 1971, the State High Court got the powers should also be respected. conferred by Article 226 of our Constitution which These two regions don’t want the Article 370. So enables it to hear the writs in the nature of habeas let the State be trifurcated into three units viz. (1) corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, Jammu, a separate state and (2) Laddakh getting a certiorari or any of them, for the enforcement of union territory status and (3) Valley The any of the rights conferred by Part III. population of the Jammu region is almost equal to (k) From 1986, Article 249 was made applicable that of the valley. The area of Jammu is more than to the State. This Article gives power to the Indian that of the valley by 11000 sq. kms. The Parliament ‘to legislate with respect to a matter in population of this new State of Jammu will be the State List in the national interest’. more than that of any of the six states of the It is true that since last about 28 years no erosion North-east. Let the State assembly pass a of the Article 370 was effected. WE can infer from resolution to this effect, and let the valley satisfy a letter that Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru wrote to Pt. itself with Article 370 as it stands today. Premnath Bajaj, an important personality in J&K, I can realize that this involves a long process. But on 21st August 1962, that Panditji was in favour of let the State Assembly pass at least the 3 laws at completely abrogating the Article. The letter the earliest, I mean before the State Assembly purports to say that in spite of the Article that elections. gives special status to J&K, much has been 1) More than 2 lac people of Jammu region have a effected; and even that which remains to be done right to vote for the Lok Sabha, but not for the will be done. In this matter the main problem is of State Assembly. It means that they are citizens of sentiments. India but not of the J&K. This absurdity must be Some other facts are also to be noted: immediately removed. The article itself contains the provision to 2)Immediate efforts be made to rehabitate the completely annul the Article. Sub section 3 of the Kashmiri Pandits. It is a shame on all people of the Article 370 says - valley and they must hang their head in disgrace “Notwithstanding anything in the forgoing that the Pandits were not allowed to live in their provisions of this article, the President may, by ancestral houses by the majority, I mean Muslims. public notification, declare that this article shall Immediate dialogue be started with the Pandits. cease to be operative only with such exceptions I hope the new Central Government will move and modifications from such date as he may with alacrity in this matter. (Writer is veteran RSS specify.” thinker) 8