Govt Must Refrain from Any ‘Misadventure’ in Kashmir, Warns Congress

NEW DELHI — Demanding the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a statement in Parliament on the ‘panic’ created in Jammu and Kashmir by the “unprecedented” advisory to Amarnath pilgrims and tourists and reinforcement of additional forces, the main opposition party Congress on Saturday warned the BJP-led central government not to “embark upon any misadventure” in this troubled-torn state.

Amid reports that the government was planning “something big” in Kashmir, top party leaders said the government must refrain from taking any steps that have serious legal and political consequences. The party also blamed BJP for the “exodus” of Kashmiri Pandits from the state.

Briefing the media at the party headquarters here, senior party leaders expressed deep concerns at the reports, emanating from both the Union Home Ministry and the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir, which were creating an atmosphere of “panic and apprehension” about the intentions of the Modi government in the state.

Senior Congress leader and former Home and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said there are reports that the government is “indeed preparing for some misadventure. Without going into what the government may be planning, he said, “I don’t wish to anticipate what misadventure this government will embark upon. For those (journalists) who are covering home ministry know that for the last 24 to 48 hours the Home Ministry is indeed preparing for some misadventure. Now which of the misadventures that you mentioned will be taken up I can’t say. But each issue is fraught with very serious legal consequences and political consequences.”

Chidambaram said all this in response to a question and asserted that the government’s understanding of some constitutional issues is “wrong”.

“Some of these issues are already before the Supreme Court. Parliament is in session. So if the government thinks that they can push through this or that, very likely by some legal maneuver, they are very wrong. Their understanding of the constitution is completely wrong,” Chidambaram said.

He said all the issues under consideration — Article 35A, delimitation of constituencies or trifurcation of the state – are fraught with “very serious legal and political consequences and these cannot be unmade.

“You look at the series of constitutional provisions starting with Art 370, we have made provision for Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam, and Meghalaya but just because we have made these provisions it doesn’t mean we can unmake those provisions. I think fundamental natures of some provisions are lost on this govt. It’s clear to me that they are preparing for some misadventure and I would warn them not to embark upon any misadventure.”

Former chief minister of J&K and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad demanded that Prime Minister should issue a statement on what is happening in Kashmir. He termed the advisory as “worrisome” and added that an environment of panic is prevailing in the Valley.

“The Advisory that was issued by Home Ministry on Friday is worrisome and people of the entire nation as well as of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh are scared. No govt has ever asked tourists and Amarnath pilgrims to go back even when militancy was on the peak. Such a thing has never happened,” Azad said.

He said the Modi government is spreading hatred and creating an impression in the minds of the people that Amarnath pilgrims were forced to return due to residents of the state.

Many pilgrims told a TV channel that they were safe in the Valley and Kashmiri people were supportive while the government on the pretext discovering a sniper and land mine forced the pilgrims and tourist to leave the state, he said.

 In reply to a question that the government insists everything is fine in J&K? Azad replied if there is no concern, why there is troop’s buildup in the state.

“Never before in history, Amarnath yatra was suspended. Since the Parliament is in session, we will demand the Prime Minister to issue a statement on Kashmir.”

Congress leader alleged that the government wants to revoke Article 35A for the sake of getting some votes for the ruling BJP.  He said Jammu and Kashmir is not the only state where outsiders cannot buy land. “You cannot buy land in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and eight states in the northeast. Why they (Centre) are not doing away with this provision in these states. Because, they won’t get votes… If you break the bridge, more disputes will arise,” Azad underlined.

He also shed light on the background of the Article 35A stating that this legal provision (State subject) has been in effect in all three regions of state since 1927 during the Maharaja Hari Singh’s rule which was inserted into the J &K Constitution on people’s demand for safeguarding their interest.

“Muslims of undivided Punjab and other areas (Pakistan) were in the background of this demand raised by Kashmiri Pundits and Hindus who were largely educated as they feared that they would lose their lands to more prosperous people from the neighbouring areas because Jammu and Kashmir has just 20 per cent plain area.”

In reply to another question on the issue of Kashmiri Pundits’ “migrations”, Azad said BJP was responsible for this as there was no Congress government in J&K and at the Center.

“Jagmohan was made Governor of J&K against the wishes of then chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah by the then Prime Minister V P Singh under the pressure of BJP as it was supporting his government from outside. Dr Abdullah had resigned in protest while Jagmohan was in charge of affairs who had facilitated the exodus of Pundits by providing them transports and other logistics. Jagmohan later joined BJP and became minister in Vajpayee government”, Azad said.

On forming the government in the state, former CM Azad said BJP does not want election there as it is directly ruling the state from Delhi where even a transfer of BDO or Patwari is effected from here.

Karan Singh, who was the first Sadr-e- Riasat of J&K, said he was totally baffled and aghast at what is happening in his state. He said he came after a long time to address the media here as “atmosphere of fear and apprehension has seized the Kashmir valley and everybody there is in a state of shock and panic”.

“I am simply speaking about the situation today; Crores will lose livelihood, students will suffer as their studies will be disrupted. It’s a heavy price we will be paying, but for what? Why are the people of J&K being forced to suffer like this, is there a good reason for it?” he asked.

Now I am 88 and I have been involved in the state since I was 18 years and we felt it’s our responsibility and duty to express our deep apprehension, Singh said.

 Former commerce minister Anand Sharma said a crisis has been created in the state.

“The government ought to have taken the leaders of the major political parties into confidence but that has not happened that’s why it’s more shocking,” Sharma said.

Ambika Soni briefed about the meeting of the Congress’ J&K Policy Planning Group. She said the group met earlier in the day and expressed concern about the actions and reports emanating from the government which is “causing a panic in the general populace”.

She circulated a statement which reads:

“The J&K Policy Planning Group of the Congress party met today under the Chairmanship of Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister.  Dr. Karan Singh, former SadreRiyasat, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition (RS), P. Chidambaram, former Home Minister, Smt. Ambika Soni, GS Incharge, J&K, Shri Tariq Hamid Karra, Member, CWC, Shri Ghulam Ahmed Mir, J&K PCC President, Shri Rigzing Zora, former CLP Leader, were present.

“The massive build-up of security forces, the curtailment of the Sri AmarnathYatra, also the unprecedented advisories being issued to the tourists, yatris and other civilians, are all creating an atmosphere of heightened insecurity and fear. The Group urged the Govt. not to take any decision which would precipitate a deep crisis.

“The Group also discussed the widespread fear and apprehension in the minds of the people across the State of J&K about Govt’s intentions of abolishing Articles 35A and 370. They reiterated the considered policy of the Congress Party and asked the Govt to maintain the constitutional guarantees given to the State of Jammu & Kashmir”.