Is it legislative assembly or municipal council for Jammu and Kashmir?

The Supreme Court, validating the Narendra Modi government’s order on August 5, 2019 abrogating Article 370 that gave special status to Kashmir, alongside dividing the state into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, directed the government to hold Assembly elections before 30th September 2024. The central government gave assurance to implement the court order. With barely two and a half months left for that period to end, the Union Home ministry issued an order intending to take away the state’s constitutional rights that all other states enjoy has naturally triggered protest from political parties in Jammu and Kashmir and national opposition led by Congress. Swamping the Lt.Governor with extraordinary powers by placing him above the chief minister, the Centre will belittle the state government giving it powers equivalent the ones that a Municipal Council has. Based on the new order, the Centre will have last word on everything from State Police to Civil Service, Anti-Corruption Bureau and Directorate of Public Prosecution to Forensic Science Laboratory. The plot to suffocate the yet-to-be elected government of Jammu and Kashmir comes as the nation is seeing the Centre’s interference into day-day affairs of the Delhi government, which is already restrained by its limited powers. While National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Umar Abdullah expressed concerns about the chief minister’s wretchedness in seeking Governor’s approval for even minor appointments, PDP Leader Mahbooba Mufti accused the Centers of curtailing even the limited powers of people of Jammu and Kashmir. She claimed that Jammu and Kashmir would be relegated to a Municipality without having power even to appoint or transfer its own officers. Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Waqar Rasool Wani termed the order the murder of democracy. Calling the order an attack on the people of Kashmir, CPM Central Committee Member Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami urged all parties come together against it.

Nearly all political parties and social outfits in the country repeatedly made it clear that Kashmir is an integral part of India. The people of India and the government resisted Pakistan’s all counter movements against it. However, the relevant question frequently being asked is if those in power at the Centre accepted the fact that the Kashmiris are also integral part of India. The history to the date shows that rights granted to the people of India are always denied to Kashmiris. Denying the Constitutional rights to the expected government in Kashmir can be considered as a conscious discrimination and a challenge to the constitution. The discrimination was evident beyond any cover-up when the Election Commission gerrymandered Assembly constituencies here last year. While most of the constituencies in Kashmir were reserved for Scheduled Caste and Tribes, there was only one so done in Jammu. Determining the number of voters in constituency was also carried out through discriminatory standards. Do not assume that people are foolish enough not to discern the adamancy in vesting all powers in Sangha parivar nominee after playing all games to ensure power for the party ruling at the Centre. The enthusiasm and interest the people of Kashmir showed, like never before, in the recent Lok Sabha elections was a statement of their commitment to the democracy and constitution of the nation. Even after the setback in the 18 th Lok Sabha polls, the saffron brigade is still learning wrong lessons, they will have to face its outcome. Also, it is to be noted that people cannot treat as silly the increasing death toll of brave soldiers in Jammu sector.