Srinagar: Foreign envoys being conducted on an orchestrated tour of Jammu and Kashmir today by zipping them through the main business markets of Srinagar city under a thick security cover reminded locals of scenes from Hollywood action movies showing Warlords entering captured territories.
The tragedy is that these envoys are to meet with handpicked Politics, Civil society members, Traders, Panchayat members who normally are unable to visit their homes in broad day light. All this is to showcase to the world that all is well in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of J&K State into two Union territories.
What a tragedy and what a pity! This was stated by J&K Awami National Conference Chief and former first lady of the State Begum Khalida Shah under continued house arrest since 5th August 2019 in a statement issued to the media.
In a statement to KNS, they said nothing is normal in Kashmir, Eight million people; 1.7 million students are without basic communication facility of the Internet. A total clampdown on freedom of speech, movement and basic liberties. There are approximately 9 million armed forces, security forces and police personnel patrolling Jammu and Kashmir with total collapse of all the economic parameters of the State.
The people of Kashmir hope that one day they will be able to meet with such guests freely and without fear apprise them on the ground realities confronting Kashmir legally, economically and politically. The only way out of the current mess is to release the thousands languishing in jails in and outside the state, including the mainstream leadership along with heads of political parties and three former Chief Ministers. Any political dialogue or meetings with envoys without involving us is meaningless, the ANC Chief stated.
Begum Khalida Shah further emphasized that no individual or group of former MLA’s have the mandate from the people of J&K to negotiate any replacement or alternative to Article 370 given to Jammu & Kashmir under very area specific special circumstances though an irrevocable guarantee to the elected Prime Minister and people of J&K by none-other than Mahatma Gandhi , Lord Mount Batten ,Prime Minister Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian Parliament till the amicable settlement of Kashmir issue reached . Abrogation of Article 370 through unilateral, undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional decision of the Central Government downsizing a historical State into a Union territory is unacceptable.
A bunch of people without any mandate sponsored by BJP and RSS are preparing ground for a sellout of the basic rights guaranteed under Constitution of India, more so at a time when the Hon’ble Supreme Court is preparing to hear petitions under a seven member constitutional bench for restoration Article 370 /35 A and restoration of State hood and its Flag. This smacks of the 1953 drama being reenacted again in Kashmir, She said.
The ANC chief further stated that the winds of change were blowing throughout the Country for restoration of Article 370 with the opposition and eminent people like Yashwant Sinha, Sitaram Yachuri, P. Chidambaram, M.K Stalin, Ghulam Nabi Azad , D.Raja and top Civil Society of the country leading from the front the campaign for its restoration.
The dictatorial policies of the abrogation of 370, fiasco on CAA and NRC, massive slowdown of Indian economy ,crushing defeats in Maharashtra ,Jharkhand, Municipal elections in Maharashtra and imminent rout in the upcoming elections of Delhi has plunged the BJP and the RSS into a midair crash mode. The people of the Country at large are getting ready to get the Countryside of the BJP’s tyrannical regime at the earliest. (KNS)
