| After Aug 5, 2019 WPRs liberated from slavery: LG Manoj Sinha | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, May 1: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday refugees from West Pakistan faced the worst ever slavery and inhuman treatment in independent India from August 15, 1947, to August 5, 2019.
He said that thousands and thousands of these poor refugees were liberated from slavery on August 5, 2019, when the Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi amended Article 370 and abrogated the “discriminatory” Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution.
“Article 370 and 35A had denied political rights and other benefits to West Pakistani Refugee families and prevented their scope of progression and upward mobility”, he said, adding, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided them the rights enjoyed by other citizens of the country and they are no longer treated as refugees”.
The Lt Governor shared the UT Administration’s resolve to extend the benefits of government schemes to their families. “The Government is working with dedication & commitment to realize the dreams of the community. It is a fresh dawn, which offers the people limitless possibilities and a new hope to the youth. We will ensure they become architects of J&K’s strong and prosperous tomorrow,” added the Lt Governor.
Ownership rights of lands to West Pakistani Refugees will be ensured by the UT administration on the directions of the Central Government, the Lt Governor added.
Art 35-A denied rights to West Pak Refugees. It was not Article 370 but also Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution, which deprived these refugees to get rights like other citizens of J&K. Article 35-A was incorporated in the Indian Constitution on May 14 1954 by presidential order without any debate in the Parliament.
Article 35(A) enabled the State Assembly to define ‘permanent residents’ and to give them special rights and privileges, as well as to restrict the rights and privileges of all citizens of India who do not fit into this definition of ‘permanent resident’.
As a consequence, no one except those defined as ‘permanent residents’ was entitled to property rights; employment in state government; participation in Panchayat, municipalities, and legislative assembly elections; admission to government-run technical education institutions; scholarships, and other social benefits.
As per the Constitution of J&K only those people who were living in J&K before or on May 14, 1944, were entitled to the “State Subject”. Article 35-A has automatically scrapped with the abrogation of Article 370. |
|
