A pro- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) group held a seminar-cum-screening of a documentary in New Delhi on Saturday.
Participatants of the seminar urged the supporters of RSS to launch a mass campaign against Article 35-A by using social media platforms and other means.
They termed Article 35-A as “unconstitutional” saying, “It is outrageous to the Preamble of Indian constitution and does not deserved on the Statue Book.”
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former governor of the State of Jammu Kashmir Jagmohan Malhotra, who was the chief guest of the function, said, “Article 35-A is the root-cause of all problems”.
Jagmohan asserted that only ‘vested-interest’ leaders and people in Kashmir clamour for Article 370 and Article 35-A.
He said, “Article 370 has only benefited the elites of the state. It is unfortunate that the nation lacks courage to do justice with the victims of these articles in the state.”
Commenting about the Article, former BJP Union Minister Jagdeep Dhankar said, “It is most unfortunate that you cannot challenge Article 35-A, which is outrageous to the Preamble of the Indian Constitution that talks of equality and justice and secularism.”
He said there are many benefits that people of India enjoy due to democratic practices. However, the people of the state suffer due to these two articles.
Zee media editor Sudhir Chaudhary tried to draw comparison between Yaqub Memon case and “the victims” of Article 35-A.
He said, “For saving a life of terrorist, the Supreme Court was opened at the stroke of midnight, but for the last 68 years these Indian citizens living in Kashmir have been denied justice.”
Attacking Kashmiri leadership, he said they can buy properties in any parts of the country but not the “genuine citizens” of the country in Kashmir.
He added that nobody wants to secede from India in Jammu Kashmir. He said that only 05 to 06 out of 22 districts have problem in Jammu Kashmir.
He advocated to educate the Indian masses about the “real issue” of the Kashmir.
The seminar was organized by the Delhi-based Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) with collaboration of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library.
JKSC President Padamshri J.L Kaul highlighted “legal loopholes” in Article 35-A.
He said JKSC is organizing seminars, symposiums and workshops throughout the country against the Article and is also trying to project it as “anti-women and against the weaker sections”.
The, 30-minute, documentary titled “Article 35-A” is directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh.
The documentary tried to highlight the “plight of victims” of the Article.
During the seminar, the audience, mostly students, raised slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki jay”. However, none of the speakers talked about the historical perspective of Jammu Kashmir’s accession to India.
REPORTS :
Abdul Bari Masoud || RK