news details |
|
|
| Dogra academicians second to none, | | CU must be headed by a Dogra | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 22: However, in fairness to Vice-Chancellor Varun Sawhney it can be said that he, unlike Amitabh Mattoo, has not indulged in activities which have the potential of spoiling the Indian pitch in Jammu and Kashmir. He has never hobnobbed with those who have been working for the Kashmir secession from India. His conduct on this count is indeed appreciable. He is not a mercenary. Nor has he ever indicated his support for what his predecessor had been doing. In fact, he is spending most of his time in straightening certain things which were mismanaged by Amitabh Matttoo during his 6-year-long tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University.
As for Amitabh Mattoo, who has been trying to become Vice-Chancellor of Central University in Jammu and perhaps whose name has already been recommended by the search committee for the same, he has all along hobnobbed with those seeking separation of Kashmir from India. He is an important functionary of anti-India PUGWASH. He has been consistently putting forth pro-separatist, pro-autonomy and pro-self-rule solutions.
For example, in December 2000, he came out with a solution which, among other things, said: "An imaginative Kashmir policy rooted in what might be termed as ten commandments can still make a difference… Kashmir is unique, and must be dealt with specially… A special task force, which is constituted by the highest political authority of the country and enjoys its confidence and is dedicated full-time to Jammu and Kashmir, must be appointed immediately. The task force must be made responsible for initiating and furthering a political dialogue and monitoring and assisting in governance and developmental activities… Autonomy must not be viewed as a dirty word, and an 'autonomous' Kashmir could become a model of cooperative federalism… There is no contradiction between wanting Kashmir to be part of the national mainstream and the state's desire for autonomous self-governance… Autonomy can be achieved in the state through a simple six-point. Restore the nomenclature. The terms Sadar-I-Riyasat and Wazir-e-Azam, which were used until 1965 for the governor and the Chief Minister of the state, still have important symbolic value for the people of the state (read Kashmiri Muslims)…Give the state a role in the selection of the governor…Prevent misuse of Article 356…Give state services more authority and increase quota in the All India Services…Appoint a regional election commissioner for the state…It is essential, therefore, that special constitutional guarantees are introduced to ensure that the state's autonomy is not eroded. It may be necessary, for instance, to introduce a provision in the constitution, which would provide for a referendum in the state before any major amendment that would affect its ties with the union becomes a law…The admission of mistakes (read mistakes committed by New Delhi) is the first step towards restoring trust between New Delhi and Kashmir…No condition must be attached at the beginning of a dialogue (with Kashmiri extremists and separatists)…A dialogue must not be for merely buying time or for transferring power to a new leadership, but for arriving at a modud vivendi that can ensure long term peace in the state…"
That his approach to Kashmir has remained consistent can be seen from what he wrote on October 13, 2009. In his article, "The Jammu & Kashmir elections and after", which was also published in a local English language daily, he, among other things, wrote: "The real long-term importance of the 2008 elections, however, will lie in the manner in which New Delhi respond to the aspirations of the people (read Kashmiri Muslims)…That the people…, who took to the streets in Kashmir a few months ago in a mass Intifada-like uprising (or on the streets of Jammu shouting Bam Bam Bhole) should turn out in even large numbers to vote in the elections may be seen by cynics as evidence of fickleness. This would be a mistake: the 'ordinary' citizen is seizing every opportunity to achieve peaceful change from the politics of the street to the politics of the ballot. New Delhi must not view the elections as signaling a return to 'business-as-usual' in the politics of the state. The triumph of democracy should not be a moment of triumphalism. By acting in a statesman-like fashion now, New Delhi and Jammu/Srinagar will demonstrate a willingness to reward participation in the democratic process and will not be seen as capitulating to extra-constitutional pressure… The Centre must consider revamping the Fifth Working Group on Centre-State relations which failed to arrive at a consensus. A new expert group can consult with all stakeholders to forge common ground on issues such as autonomy, self-rule and sub-regional aspirations…Will the state and the Central Government respond to this new peaceful assertion of the people of J&K (read Kashmiri Muslims) for real change?
The meaning of what he wrote in December 2000 and 2009 was clear: Give autonomy/self-rule to Kashmir.
If the search committee has really recommended the names of Amitabh Mattoo and Sadiq Wahid and others of their ilk, then it can be said that the authorities in the Raj Bhawan and New Delhi are deliberately planting such persons in the Central University of Jammu whose signal-point agenda is to work for the state's separation from India. (To be continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
