JAMMU, Aug 5: The Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS), Jammu, on Tuesday strongly criticised the decision of the Union Territory Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to observe August 5 as a “Black Day”, describing the move as unfortunate, politically misplaced and contrary to the larger interests of Jammu and Kashmir.
The resolution was adopted during a meeting of the Sabha held under the chairmanship of its President, K. K. Khosa, who said that August 5, 2019, marked the complete and irreversible constitutional integration of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country following the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
The Sabha maintained that the constitutional changes ushered in an era of equality, constitutional uniformity and inclusive development, enabling the people of Jammu and Kashmir to fully benefit from various welfare schemes and development initiatives of the Central Government.
Members observed that over the past seven years, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir had made significant progress in civil services, academics, research, sports, entrepreneurship and other sectors, attributing these achievements to the opportunities created after the constitutional changes.
The Sabha further stated that several progressive Central laws safeguarding the rights of women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and other marginalised communities became applicable in Jammu and Kashmir only after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. It also described the removal of discriminatory provisions affecting women’s inheritance rights as a major step towards ensuring gender justice.
Expressing concern over repeated demands for reversing the constitutional changes of August 2019, the Sabha alleged that such a narrative resonated only with separatist and anti-national elements and did not reflect the aspirations of a large section of the people, particularly the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community, which had welcomed the constitutional reforms.
While reiterating that the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood remained a legitimate democratic aspiration, the Sabha emphasised that the issue should not be linked to the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, which it said had attained constitutional finality.
The Sabha urged the Omar Abdullah-led Government to focus on governance instead of political symbolism and called for the formulation of a comprehensive, time-bound policy for the safe, dignified and sustainable return and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
Among those present at the meeting were Deepak Dhar, Ashwani Koul, S. L. Bagati, G. J. Kampasi, Subash Dhar, Rajinder Tiku, Prof. R. K. Ganjoo, Jitender Parimoo, Vinod Bhat, V. K. Mukhi, V. K. Bakshi, Dr. Usha Tickoo, Dr. Sujata Sathoo, Asha Kitchloo, B. B. Gosain and Satish Khoda.