THE HIMALAYAN MAIL Q MONDAY Q DECEMBER 07, 2020 6 THE EDITORIAL PAGE SUPER GURU 370 is Gone for Good In our culture, a Guru or teacher Brig Anil Gupta (Retd) elected. cerity. It certainly was not to the liking of ing to win over the people by creating a fear holds an important position in the As claimed by the leaders of the Gupkar the Gupkaris and their cronies. The sub- psychosis among them. They oppose each The response of the people across both Alliance, Article 370 was meant for pro- dued response of the people much against and every action of the government on the lives of students. However, over regions to the ongoing elections for the tecting the Kashmiri identity. Kashmir's their hopes of bloodshed and huge protests plea that it is meant to kill their identity the years commercialization of District Development Councils (DDCs) is identity world over was recognised as a came as a rude shock to them. The govern- and change demography. Baseless accusa- a curt message to the status quo lobby led by multilingual, multi-faith, multi-cultural ment was falsely accused of use of force tions to emotionally exploit the populace. education and the degree and the Peoples' Alliance for Gupkar Declara- plural society famous for peaceful co-exis- and suppression. The government took One of the lingering fears created among marks, driven curriculum sans the tion (PAGD) popularly also known as Gup- tence. But these very leaders are responsi- precautionary measures to prevent divi- the youth that their jobs will be snatched. kar Alliance. The vast majority of people ble for the murder of famous Kashmiri sive elements from creating law and order The reality is to the contrary. J&K now has moral aspect has changed the per- standing in long queues outside the polling identity. 370 was misused to promote se- problems causing inconvenience to com- 100% reservation for locals in all jobs in- booths in bone-chilling cold while re- cessionism, separatism, radicalisation mon men. These measures proved success- cluding gazetted and non-gazetted. No ception about teachers. Amidst sponding to the news reporters do not leading to onslaught on the Kashmiri Pan- ful. other state/UT in the country enjoys this this, a primary school teacher of mince words while stating that they are dit community, the indigenous community A slew of measures were taken by the unique privilege. voting for development and employment. It of the Valley, forcing them to flee leading government thereafter to undo the ill-ef- The amended land laws were also used Maharashtra Ranjitsinh Disale’s is their sole agenda since they have de- to large scale exodus and ethnic cleansing. fects of 370 as enumerated above. These to create fear among the people claiming life and work stand out and shifts prived of it for long. It is therefore clear Was this the purpose of inserting Article included elections to the second and third that their lands would be snatched and that 60 year rule under the shelter of Article 370 in the Constitution of India? Fears ex- tiers of PRI by holding elections for Block forcibly purchased by outsiders. People are focus on the qualities of a guru. 370 failed to provide the basic amenities pressed by Dr Ambedkar about the future of Development Councils (BDCs) and District being confused by quoting protection en- Disale won a one million dollar of road, drinking water and electricity to Hindu and Buddhist minorities in Kash- Development Councils (DDCs). Urban Lo- joyed by a few states under Article 371. the people at large. Connectivity, educa- mir proved true. Taking shelter of 370, cal Bodies (ULBs) elections were also held. There is no comparison between 370 and award for being adjudged the tion, health and basic amenities still elude Gupkaris refused to include the word "sec- Ongoing DDC elections are unique in the 371, since 371 is a permanent provision and the people despite huge amount of funds ular" in the preamble of the State Constitu- sense that certain deprived sections (West does not promote secession and sepa- world’s most exceptional teacher received from successive central govern- tion after its inclusion in the Constitution of Pakistan Refugees, Valmikis and Gorkhas) ratism. Often people are misled by draw- and he holds lessons for all educa- ments. Where did all these funds vanish? India. are voting for the first time. (Earlier they ing comparison with neighbouring Hi- Reports are surfacing of projects shown as Article 370 was used by the Gupkaris to could vote only for Parliamentary elec- machal Pradesh stating that the state has tionists. He chose innovation over completed in files but not actually existing institutionalise corruption in J&K since tions). 73rd and 74th amendments have special provision protecting their land making his students learn by rote on the ground. Voters are openly accusing none of the progressive anti-corruption been made fully applicable fulfilling the rights. Again the fact is to the contrary. their leaders of having cheated them time laws passed by the Parliament were made long pending demand of the people. There Section 118 in Himachal is restrictive and and discipline them the hard way. and again and becoming unreachable and applicable in the state. This encouraged the are reserved seats for the women and does not put an absolute ban on the sale inapproachable after the elections are over Gupkaris and their cronies to resort to un- Scheduled Tribes (STs) for the first time. and purchase of land and property in Hi- Instead of following a syllabus, leaving them to their plight which has not bridled corruption without fear of being A new crop of grassroots level leadership machal. It has provisions through which, Disale made innovations on the changed during the last seventy years. held accountable or questioned. Rules is emerging which augurs well for the fu- with the approval of government, anyone People have also realised that they were were not only ignored but blatantly by- ture. can buy land and property in the state. lines of what interests the young emotionally exploited with slogans like passed with impunity. The skeletons which Unhappy with the tremendous response While the new land law of J&K totally bans pupil. He made learning a fun and self-rule, greater autonomy, azadi while emerged in the cupboard of Jammu & to revocation of 370, the status quo lobby the sale of agricultural land to other than enough autonomy was granted by article Kashmir Bank Ltd post revocation of 370 joined hands to form the PAGD with the existing agriculturists of J&K. People what he called ‘edutainment.’ 370. Had these leaders been serious and and the Roshni Scam dubbed as the avowed aim of struggling for return of 370 will soon realise that these lies are being Making optimum use of digital committed to the welfare of the people they biggest land scam of the country are just a and statehood. They also announced that told just to discredit the new laws and cre- could have easily provided them the basic few examples of institutionalised corrup- they do not recognise the J&K Reorgani- ate a pitch for restoration of 370. technologies, he made learning facilities of road, water and electricity but tion unleashed by them. sation Act 2019, whereby the state was di- It is the fear of being questioned and instead they chose to mislead them with 370 was also used by the Gupkaris to vided in two union territories (UTs) and all held accountable for their misdeeds in- affordable and easy. Disale thus false slogans and dreams of greener pas- deny the devolution of powers to grass- central laws made applicable, and any deci- cluding unbridled corruption that is became another name of dedica- ture while lining their own pockets with roots level by preventing application of sion taken thereof. However, DDC elec- haunting the Gupkaris. That is the main the generous assistance received from the 73rd and 74th Amendments and not hold- tions being conducted under a notification reason for their demand of restoration of tion to a cause and selflessness. Central Governments. ing elections to the Panachayt Raj Institu- using same Act, forced them to make a U- 370. But the common man has understood This man rose from the yearning This gave rise to a group of elite and priv- tions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies. They turn. Initially, lofty claims were made of how 370 was misused by these leaders to ileged families who assumed controls of were loath to centre of power shifting from elections only as a measure to stop the deprive them of basic amenities while filling for a job and money giving his best not only the government but other organs Gupkar Road to the towns and villages tak- growth of Bharatiya Janata Party but soon their own coffers. They are happy with the of administration as well. While these fam- ing shelter under 370. It was also used to they began to pronounce it as a referen- much awaited change they were yearning to change hundreds of lives in a ilies prospered, ordinary people continued promote regional and religious discrimi- dum for restoration of 370. Appeals are be- for and are hopeful that the representative region where drought is chronic to live a life full of miseries. Gradually, they nation. 370 was used as a bargaining tool ing made to vote for the candidates of they choose for the DDC will meet their grabbed so much of power that they began with the central governments which usu- PAGD so that they can bring back 370.