Geelani opposes abrogation of Article 370 Accuses mainstream parties of eroding 370 =>The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Ali Geelani on Thursday said that even if Article 370 is only present in official papers and it has been ‘eroded’ by New Delhi with the help of pro-Indian Kashmiri leaders but the presence of this article in the Indian constitution is a proof that the Jammu and Kashmir is not like state of India rather it is a disputed region and its final decision of settlement is still pending. In a statement issued to GNS, the octogenarian leader said: Actually New Delhi want to finish it entirely so that they can make a large scale demographic change here and they want to change the Muslim majority of Jammu and Kashmir into the minorities and for implementing their dangerous plan of grabbing our land on Israel pattern, they want to eliminate this last hurdle of their way.” Geelani cautioned that any attempt made to abrogate this documentary proof of Kashmiri disputed nature will be opposed tooth and nail and if it happened then ‘our freedom struggle will enter a new era and whole nation will unanimously fight against the Indian occupation under a single banner and it will be a decisive phase of this movement’. Terming the discussion over the article 370 as ‘meaningless and wastage of time’, Geelani said if Indian governments want any discussion then they should discuss the pros and cons of lingering of Kashmir dispute and they should analyze that what Indian people gained or lost in 67 years of ‘military occupation’ over Kashmir? “The provision of Article 370 in Indian constitution has its own history and the room for the appointment of Prime Minister instead of Chief Minister and President instead of Governor and its own Supreme court and election commission was kept because the Indian army was here to maintain peace and India was bound by its promise to withdraw its army from Kashmir after situation improves and Kashmiris will be given a chance to decide their future independently,” he said, adding: “Article 370 was introduced to differentiate the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the other states of India till the final decision and it was promised that the Kashmir will be an autonomous state except defense, external affairs and finance and it will not be recognized as part of Indian federal government unlike other states.” Geelani alleged that India backtracked from her promise and is still holding Kashmir merely by its ‘military might’. “Instead of discussing article 370, Indian government and its people should discuss that have they conquered Kashmir after the long and hard 67 years? Or have they been successful in winning the hearts of the people of Kashmiries? They should analyze that have they succeeded in changing the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people in their favour? Or have any single individual of Kashmir accepted the forced occupation of India by heart and who doesn’t have sentiments of freedom?” The pro-freedom leader said: “India and its poor people are paying a heavy price of holding Jammu and Kashmir under its forced occupation. This country is spending the major part of its budget on arms/weapon purchase and due to which millions of its people are miserably suffering. The majority of people of this country are forced to live below poverty line and every year thousands of people die of hunger.” He urged that instead of discussing article 370 there is the immediate need of serious discussion over these major issues and it will be a beginning to the peace, prosperity and development of the South-Asian region. Geelani accused mainstream parties of eroding Article 370. (GNS)
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 15:37:57 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015