 Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 27: The Reconciliation, Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrant Kashmiri Pandits have demanded immediate restoration of statehood and special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The Chairman of the organization Satish Mahaldar has said that Indian constitution ensures right to equality that extends to individuals, communities, religions, regions and all social and political institutions. The right to equality does not only ensure non-discrimination on basis of the religion, caste, region or any other social and political sub- categories. “A state has never been downgraded and this is not done in a democracy. One can’t have a military solution to a political situation and can’t go to war against own people. The special provisions should be to safeguard the interest and aspirations of the backward regions, to protect cultural and economic interests of the people, safeguarding the minorities and to deal with the disturbed law and order in some parts of the state,” said the chairman. Mahaldar said that states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand enjoy special status. A wide range of provisions are available to these 10 states that have been listed under Articles 371, 371-A to 371-H, and 371. “A special category status should be granted to J&K immediately on the basis of sizeable share of tribal population, strategic international borders, economic and infrastructural backwardness, non-viable nature of state finances, deal with the disturbed law and order in some parts of J&K state, discriminated minorities in Kashmir,” said the chairman. Mahaldar said the central government should bear 90 percent of the state expenditure on all centrally-sponsored schemes and external aid while the rest 10 percent should be given as loan to the state at zero percent rate of interest.
He said that J&K should get preferential treatment in getting central funds, concession on excise duty to attract industries to the state, 30 percent of the Centre’s gross budget should be also given to J&K as conferred to other states and the state should avail the benefit of debt-swapping and debt relief schemes. “Special status should be conferred to Kashmiri Pandits. Since they are a cultural and religious minority within the state, the special status should be enacted within the provision of the constitution. It is the responsibility of the state and the central government to protect ancient culture and a particular race,” said the chairman.
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