New Delhi: As India is going to mark a year of abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, a hope for a new era for this Valley with majestic mountains has become alive with the central government announcing developmental packages for different sectors including education, health, tourism among others.
It was August 5, 2019, when Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament announced the historic decision of abrogating Article 370 for everlasting peace and prosperity.
"In the last year, there have been phenomenal changes and development that have taken place in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Dream of the people of J&K and Ladakh which has been nurturing for years and decades together has finally started culminating. In terms of redevelopment taking place in various places of J&K whether it is in terms of infrastructural development, in terms of providing hospitalization facilities, especially in last four months, when we are battling with COVID epidemic, this could happen following the abrogation of Article 370, said Prof Geeta Bhatt of Delhi University.
She went on to add, "Barring a few terrorist attacks which have taken place, the development is phenomenal and I think Shyama Prasad Mukherjee who has given his life for the integration of J&K, the abrogation was a tribute to Shyama Prasad Ji."
Rejecting all claims made by opposition parties and a section of people in the Valley criticising the government of misleading the people in the name of development, Bhatt said that for the last 70 years, there was a certain selected section of Kashmiri people who were, in a way the ruling class, enjoying all the facilities at the expanse of the central government and the expanse of the taxpayer's money.
"Can we imagine that a former Chief Minister is entitled to a bungalow and other facilities even she or he is not a Chief Minister! They were enjoying all these facilities in the name of Article 370. And this section is the one who is making the and cry...But the common people in J&K were living in poverty facing problems even to fulfill their day to day need. The ordinary people of J&K are very very happy about it," said Prof Bhatt, who is an elected member of the Academic Council of the University of Delhi.
She said that the abrogation of this controversial Article has also helped the administration in bringing down the number of terrorist activities. "It's right that there were a decreasing number of terrorist attacks in J&K in last one year. This has given a setback to terror hub Pakistan, which has always been pumping terrorist into the Indian side," said Prof Bhatt.
She, however, said that India will have to live with Pakistan as a neighbour. "But there were several instances which proved that terror organisations have their bases in Pakistan. But their activities in Kashmir has been decreased because of abrogation of Article 370. They have lost the kind of shield they (terrorist) were enjoying," she said.
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Referring to the prosperity and development of J&K, Prof Bhatt who has published several research papers on education and development has said that Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Ladakh, have got its religious and tourist attractions.
"I believe five years down the line, there's will be opportunities in tourism as large corporates have also expressed their desire to invest in the Valley," said Prof Bhatt.
She hoped that central Government will also take the opportunity to bring all stakeholders of the region for a common consensus for overall development.
"And the bifurcation of J&K into two separate UTs is also scope for inclusive development of the region...there will be higher educational institutions, central universities etc and because of which youths of Ladakh don't need to go to other states," Prof Bhatt added.
In fact, following the abrogation of Article 370, BJP led central government intends for greater integration of J&K with India. The last year has witnessed several packages and developmental schemes being announced by the central government for J&K and Ladakh.
The government is also preparing an ambitious industrial promotion policy in 2020. This policy will have elements like tax exemption and a very attractive land policy. Government has also identified 14 sectors for privatizing its efforts for investment. Sectors like IT, Tourism and hospitality, agro and food processing, skill and handicraft, medicinal plant, infrastructure and real estate among others have been prioritised.
Startup policy has already been rolled out in the Union Territory for creation of 500 New startups besides establishing incubators, innovation and incubation labs.
Special attention has been given in the health sector too with the opening of seven new medical colleges and the doubling of medical seats in one year. Abrogation of Article 370 has also removed all regulatory and institutional barriers between J&K and the rest of India.
The constitutional expert also believes that the decision of the central government to abrogate Article 370 that was taken a year back was a long pending aspiration of crores of Indians.
"Abrogation of Article 370 was a constitutional aspiration too which was fulfilled. And it was done under the rules of the Constitution of India. Government of India as well the Indian Parliament has taken a correct stand. Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) should also be included in the geographical area of India," said senior lawyer SP Singh.
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He said that there should be a Uniform Civil Code for J&K "which will of course not create any problems for the minorities living in the region."
"All civilised country in the world have a common civil code and that civil code also has a provision for protecting the interest of the minorities," said advocate Singh.
He said that following the abrogation of Article 370, there are no more hurdles which used create differences between J&K and the rest of the country.
"There are a few people only who are against the abrogation. People who have been enjoying facilities under the old system, they are only making hue and cry. Otherwise, general people are in support of the abrogation," said Singh.
Whoever is not accepting the Indian Constitution, whosoever is not following the Indian Parliament they should be dealt with strongly, suggested advocate Singh.
So far terrorism part is concerned, they're "foreign element" who are creating chaos. "They want to destabilise the country," Singh said.
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Renowned security analyst and former director-general of Border Security Force (BSF) Prakash Singh also hoped that the coming year will certainly bring peace and development for the region.
"It was a long-awaited decision. The abrogation will now definitely connect J&K with the rest of the country," said security expert and former director-general of Border Security Force (BSF) Prakash Singh.
He said that the government in the last one year has chalked put a well-prepared strategy for the development of the region and started working on it. However, looking into it the prevailing situation of the valley government, Singh believes, should also try to bring normalcy in the Valley as soon as possible.
"I believe the government should again consider giving Statehood status to J&K to bring further progress in the region. The government should also look into the matter of releasing all political detainees on the condition that there is no more threat from them," said Singh.
The former BSF top cop, however, admitted that due to law and order situation and prevailing pandemic, development in the Valley has not yet taken so rapidly.
Singh said that the decision of abrogation of Article 370 has also put the picture of J&K in the international platform "clear." "
"Nobody has any right to intervene into India's internal affairs and the abrogation has substantiated the claim," said Singh.
With the government making its stand on J&K clear, it's time now that all stakeholders should be brought under one platform so that the Valley with majestic mountains and imperial grandeur could again rule the heart of the people with a new look.
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