Indian Constitution ended J&K’s era of rewarding traitors: LG
Jammu, Nov 26: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday said that the free flow of the Indian Constitution, post Article 370 abrogation, ended the practice of “rewarding separatists and traitors” and discrimination and established the rule of law in J&K.
Addressing the gathering at the Constitution Day celebrations in Jammu, he said, “Last year in the event commemorating the 75 years of adoption of the Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that some people had tasted the ‘blood’ and that’s why they ‘preyed upon’ (amended) the constitution multiple times on whims and thus insulted the constitution makers. In 1975, the (spirit of) constitution was severely ‘damaged’ by the imposition of emergency.”
He said that B R Ambedkar had talked about social democracy, focussing on independence, equality, and harmony.
“In that backdrop, we too need to ponder over the fact – why and for how long the ploy of discrimination, separatism, or secessionism continued in J&K. We need to comprehend this situation in the perspective – an Indian soldier could make a supreme sacrifice of his life for our (J&K’s) protection; could spill his blood here for the integrity of the country but he had no right in J&K to construct even a small hutment here due to certain reasons,” LG Sinha said about pre-2019 J&K.
He reminded the gathering of another “irony” that delineated the situation in J&K, prior to the abrogation of Article 370.
“You all very well know that J&K gets massive economic assistance from the Government of India, only then can it run its affairs. Intriguingly, the GoI would give it money, but the Parliament of the country had no right to know and monitor where and how this money was being spent. I believe this was an irony,” the LG said.
“I would like to share with you all a small episode. During the programme, I was watching the Parliament debate. In 1965, the terrorist nation, Pakistan, committed atrocities against many citizens of J&K. Later, such affected families were given the economic assistance of mere Rs 120 per family. However, the government of J&K in 1968 gave Rs 600 (each) as economic assistance per month to people who had left J&K for Pakistan and returned after getting training in terrorism,” he said. “It simply meant that there was a provision to ‘punish’ those citizens who were loyal to J&K, but those who were traitors used to be rewarded. This fact was brought to the fore in the Parliament of the country on August 30, 1968, by a very renowned parliamentarian. In this context, I want to reaffirm that the practice of rewarding separatists and torturing patriots has been stopped completely by the Indian Constitution.”
LG Sinha said, “There used to be 32 tehsils here, but the number of tehsildars was 75. Recommendations were made for several (non-deserving) persons for induction as IAS and IPS officers. One particular incident on this account needs to be quoted here. During the 1970s, one convict became an IAS officer. Not only this, even the matriculates would be (inducted as) IAS and IPS (officers).”
He said that hardworking, educated, and talented people, who too were also citizens of J&K, kept on waiting for just opportunities.
In a dig at the political opponents and critics, the LG said, “Every now and then, they (political adversaries) ask – what has changed (post abrogation of Article 370)? I want to tell them – by ensuring the free flow of the Indian Constitution here, it has been guaranteed that the youth will get jobs purely on the basis of merit. Recommendations for favourites will not get them jobs.”
He said, “The Parliament has ensured that no citizen of J&K will remain deprived of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India. The implementation of the Constitution has ensured equal rights, opportunities for every citizen, and infused transparency and accountability in the administration to further bolster J&K’s march towards progress.”
LG Sinha said that 890 central laws, passed by the Parliament yet not applicable in J&K, had now been fully implemented here also.
Referring to PoK refugees, he said that there was a section of society which had a right to vote in some elections only (not in J&K assembly elections).
“But now all sections of society have equal rights. Another section could not get ownership of the land. Their dream too has been realised. The members of one section of society, despite being well educated, could get only the job of sweepers. That discrimination, too, has ended,” he said.
The LG said, “For 76 years, the Constitution has been a beacon of equity, liberty, and social justice and a guiding light for the citizens of this great country.”
He called upon the policymakers and officers to uphold the values of the constitution and commit to protecting and upholding the rights of citizens.
“Our Constitution is venerable, which has paved the way for India’s progress. We have to keep national unity and integrity intact. We must create the feeling of self-confidence and self-respect in the society, and every means and resource has to be used to make India powerful and self-reliant,” LG Sinha said.
He said, after a long wait of 67 years, provisions of the Constitution were made fully applicable to J&K in 2019, ending the rule of discrimination and injustice.
“Now J&K is moving ahead guided by ideals of equity, social and economic justice as enshrined in the Constitution by B R Ambedkar,” the LG said.
He said that, from day one, his mission in J&K was to improve the lives of the citizens, to eradicate discrimination and injustice, eliminate the terror ecosystem, and to make sure that the benefits of central schemes reached the lowest strata of the society.
LG Sinha said that by the implementation of all provisions of the Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured honour, pride, and dignity for every brother and sister of J&K. The J&K-level event commemorating the 75 years of adoption of the Constitution was organised by the Department of Culture, in collaboration with the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Prior to his address, he administered the reading of the ‘Preamble to the Constitution’ and paid tributes to the founding fathers and architects of the Constitution of India.
Speaker, J&K Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather; Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti, Shaleen Kabra; Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, Shantmanu; Principal Secretary Culture, Brij Mohan Sharma; Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar; IGP Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti and Secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Achal Sethi also attended the function.
