In a first Altaf Bukhari, G H Mir, PDP rebels demand statehood, release of detainees, land & Job rights, internet restoration

Srinagar: In a significant development, former finance Syed Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday led the delegation of eight former legislators all from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and submitted a detailed memorandum to Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandera Murmu . As five of the seven members of the delegation were former legislator of Mehbooba Mufti led PDP it was obviously clear that the rebellion has gone deeper in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after the bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir state into two union territories and withdrawal of special status to the erstwhile state on August 5 last year. The move comes at a time when top leaders of National Conference and Peoples’ Democratic Party including three former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba are under detention for the last more than five months.
The delegation sought statehood for Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory and demanded release of prisoners and protection of land and job rights besides restoration of internet services.
The memorandum submitted by the delegation reads as under :
“we take this opportunity to solicit your attention towards the socio-political and economic situation that emerged since August 5, 2019 (Nullification of Article 370 and reorganization of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir). The memorandum further reads that since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status embedded in Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories— Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without one—the majority of its residents are yet to reconcile with this decision. Although it is heartening that the Kashmir remained peaceful and no fatalities were recorded due to enhanced security measures and other administrative efforts but the credit must go to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who showed extreme maturity while registering their peaceful protest. Fact of the matter is that a majority of people in Jammu and Kashmir feel hurt and there are vocal concerns wherein they feel their decades-long privileges were unceremoniously curtailed.To win over the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmiri, the Centre will have to re-examine its decades old policies vis-à-vis Kashmir. Depending solely on security measures and dealing with peoples’ political aspirations through the law and order prism will always have its old tested repercussions. Until August 5, 2019 people of the Jammu and Kashmir had not realized the essence of Statehood. For the residents of J&K, the issue of statehood holds more emotional importance than legal. Statehood for the inhabitants of the erstwhile princely State is something they genuinely relate to as a reference to their glorious past, a place which has been a mosaic of various religions, cultures, languages and regions. So Statehood for these people is solidification of the idea of pluralism and respectful coexistence. The memorandum also reads that the abrogation of Article 370 and, in particular, annulling Article 35A on account of being “discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir and it being “an obstacle in the development of the state” has outstanding issues. As we know Article 35A, among its various provisions, granted special rights to permanent residents of J&K for: “ (i) employment under the State Government; (ii) acquisition of immovable property in the State; (iii) settlement in the State …” and, of course, defining such residents. The restoration of internet connectivity in all regions of the Union Territory needs to be looked into as a major confidence building measure and an outreach to the public. This is also very important for the industrial economy, education, medical services, media, as well as revival of the tourism sector in the Union Territory.
The delegation led by Altaf Bukhari included Ghulam Hassan Mir (President Democratic Party Nationalist), Mohammad Dilawar Mir (Former Minister), Zaffar Iqbal (Former MLC), Javed Hassan Beig (Former MLA), Noor Mohammad Shiekh (Former MLA)Choudhary Qamar Hussain (Former MLA), Raja Manzoor Ahmad (Former MLA).