Srinagar: Kashmir Centre for Social and Development Studies (KCSDS) and Jammu Kashmir Bar Association Saturday alleged that some treacherous proposals of the government that have been quietly and intriguingly thrown up during the past several weeks aimed at inflicting a body blow to our psyche, demographics of the state and creation of communal balkanization and last but not least the tacit consent in handing over the admission process of MBBS to central authority to further erode article 370 by virtue of the latest judgment of Supreme Court on the criterion of admission to Medical colleges referred to as NEET.
Addressing a press conference here, KCDS Chairperson Professor Nayeema Hameed said that there are Government proposals to construct permanent residential accommodation for retired army men and construction of homeless non- state subjects through different proposals and the proposed construction of separate enclaves for pandits. These are treacherous clandestine moves to dilute the state subject law and communalize Kashmir valley in the most sinister manner, she said.
We have organized this press conference jointly to warn the government in strongest terms against the implementation of these treacherous and illegitimate plans which are aimed at legitimizing the illegal settlements and to make people aware of the nefarious designs of the present government.
First is the construction of permanent shelters for non state subjects in Jammu and Kupwara districts under National Urban Livelihood Mission (N ULM) for the year 2015-2016. We have come across a copy of the revised minutes of the Project Sanctioning Committee constituted for finalization of shelter for urban homeless in the two districts.
According to the minutes dated 8 January 2016, the commissioner housing and urban development pressed for the construction of similar facilities in other districts like Srinagar, Samba, Budgam, Reasi and Kathua in the near future. We found the minutes very confusing and deceitful.
In one sentence it states that this component will focus on providing shelter to people who are living either on roadside or under flyovers or in the homes of their relatives. In another sentence it states the occupants will not be necessarily state subjects and that the facility thus created shall be transitory,
It is common knowledge that there are no homeless persons in our state. Even the poorest person has a shelter in Kashmir. To that extent the attempt is to transplant a city like Delhi in Kupwara and Jammu to begin with. The issue of homeless persons is a feature of industrialized cities rather than broadly agricultural societies like Kashmir.
Viewed this way, the project is yet another attempt to drill a hole in the state subject law of the state under the garb of so-called humanitarian concern. In reality, it is part of the state machinations to settle outsiders in the state of J&K to change its demographics,
We believe NULM project does not apply to JK because the situation of homeless people does not exist here, she said.
Secondly, the state cannot provide this facility to outsiders precisely because state subject law does not permit it. The project is, therefore, a masquerade for diluting the state subject law by settling outside labour force, stray visitors and others in the state. The minutes are full of prevarications to deceive Kashmiris into believing that it is purely a harmless humanitarian project meant to serve imaginary homeless citizens of the state but actually meant to stab them in the back.
Second is the latest directions from New Delhi to CM to identify 350 kanals of land for sainik colony for army men who have served Indian state by ravaging Kashmir and her inhabitants This is the worst kind of charade governmentt is playing on the wounded psyche of Kashmir besides diluting the state subject law. CMs fast track directions to DCs of Srinagar and Budgam to identify land for Sainik colony is highly deplorable and must be thwarted forthwith. The plan of constructing Pandit enclaves about which we have made our stand clear many a times in the previous years is again a political move to settle non kashmirs hindus in the state on the pretext of Pandits rehabilitation to grab land , hinduise Kashmir and to create communal balkanization in the valley. Pandits could be settled in their own previous neighibourhoods. Around ten thousand families are living here in mixed neighbourhoods and are sufficient to testify to the fact that they can sink and swim with their muslim neighbours. The situation of 90s does not prevail today.We warn this govt to stop the implementation of these conspiratorial proposals meant to hurt kashmiris extremely, change demographics of the state and in the name of pandits return create communal settlements to keep Kashmir in a perpetual state of war to provide ammunition for BJP-RSS electoral politics in the whole of India. It is a shame for BJP-RSS Govt that the entire electoral politics of over one billion people hinges on the destruction and devastation of our eco fragile landscape and an agenda to hinduize and territorialize Kashmir, the only muslim majority state under her forcible control with a population of 13 million out of over a billion strong Hindu majority population, Hameeda Nayeem said.
The third is the supreme court Judgment on NEET which is a direct ambush on our special status because the subject of Education in our case is under the jurisdiction of State Govt. The 42nd amendment which was brought in 1977 to put Education on the concurrent list , did not extend to our state because of Art 370. As such the subject of Education continues on the state list and only our state has exclusive powers to regulate and legislate on this subject. The Supreme Court Judgment can not apply to our State. If it is sought to be implemented here, that will constitute a direct attack on our status and will be very fiercely resisted by one and all especially the younger generation whose interested are projected to be the dearest to the present govt.
If the process of selection to medical colleges in the state is left with Indian authorities, our students will suffer worst type of discrimination and most of them would be left out .We are already witnessing our students being tortured in Indian colleges and universities on flimsy grounds like cheering for their favorite cricket teams , consumption of non-vegetarian food etc. Therefore, the people of J&K wont put their sons & daughters to risk in the company of those who could adversely affect their physical and mental health.
While talking about the illegal confinement of Handwara girl and alleged harassment of youth Kashmir Bar Association President Mian Abdul Qayoom said that the minor girl in Handwara who reported alleged sexual assault by the armed forces has been in illegal police custody since April 12. Her video statement taken in police custody under coercion & undue influence has been widely circulated in violation of the law which has sought to malign the image of the girl and vaguely absolve the armed forces of the complaint before any investigation of the allegations can take place. No action has been taken against the army which has admitted to circulation of vedio in a statement before the Court.
In police custody, the minor has been molested, pressurised and dealt with in an unacceptable, unethical and illegal manner. We urge the Govt. to immediately end her & her familys illegal confinement fortwith, failing which the people of the state will be forced to come on roads to protect the girl from the predators, he said. (CNS)
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