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| Debate must on 'merits and demerits of Article 370' : Prof Gupta | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 7: Former union Minister and MLA Prof Chaman Lal Gupta while commenting upon the controversy over the various aspects of Article 370 today asserted that there is much need for debate on merits and demerits of Article 370 granting separate status to Jammu and Kashmir instead of its legal and Constitutional validity.
He also pointed out that the said article has been there in the statue book for over six decades but the ground reality is that this has proved more detrimental as far as interests of people of State itself, not to say of other Countrymen.
In a press statement issued here today, Prof. Gupta said, "this provided unbridled powers to the ruling class who have been playing foul with rights of the people, so much so the elections were not fair and many people saw the ballot paper only in 1972 after when the jurisdiction of Election Commission of India was extended to this State."
He added that the players of this foul themselves confessed but when they were out of power. They also included the founders of Article 370 like Sheikh Abdullah but only when were out of power. The extent of misuse of the separate status that it was only in 2002, the government of the State was changed through ballot and confidence in democratic process was restored.
In the absence of the provisions of Indian Constitution the basic democratic rights of the people, the Panchayats, local bodies and even other basic democracies like that of Cooperatives have been made institutions of mockery.
Prof. Gupta further said because of the Article 370 and separate Constitution the industrial growth has been badly affected resulting in backwardness, unemployment and so many other problems like that of mounting dependence at the Centre and even increasing imports. This status, Prof. Gupta also said, has led to discrimination against Jammu as also depriving of political reservation to Gujjars and other scheduled tribes and the rights of scheduled castes.
Prof. Gupta said that J&K belongs to entire people of India as only after signing of Instrument of Accession the Indian Army came to this part and since then the thousands of jawans of different parts have been coming here and sacrificing their lives in defense of the integrity of the mother India. It is ridiculous to claim that the only master of this State are some particular section of people and not the entire people of Country a whole. He further said that to have more central funds, it is argued that this was their rights as being part of India but to distance from rest of the Country, some other arguments are given including one that "Kashmir is disputed". Prof. Gupta, who is an author of a book titled " Article 370, A Thorn" asserted that on the very face of this provision, it was inserted as "Temporary and Transitional'. The Parliament being the supreme and can amend or enact laws except the Article 1 and 3. During the past six decades there have about 100 amendments. It is ridiculous to say that Article 370 cannot be altered. |
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