Jammu, January 13 (KNO) : While expressing surprise over Army Chief General Rawat’s statement that each classroom in government schools in Jammu and Kashmir had a separate map of the state besides that of India, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami Saturday said there are two flags because J&K has its own constitution owing to the state’s special status.
J&K acceded to India under the guarantees provided by the Constitution under article 370. This is because that Kashmir has unique history, ethos and identity.
On Army Chief’s assertions that most misguided youth come from schools where they are being radicalised, he said, J&K having separate constitution is not because of any religious reasons, but it is because of historically evolved cultural identity.
The government of India, which initially recognised the special status for J&K, could not maintain this position. And reality is that from holding special status, Jammu and Kashmir now has been deprived of the rights and powers which other states enjoy. Eroding J&K’s special position is the reason for rise of uncertainty in J&K and also gives an opportunity to others to fish in the troubled waters.
The deep rooted and the massive alienation resulting in unprecedented unrest is in reality the outcome of the process of erosion of special status of J&K. What General Rawat has said will only compound the alienation and uncertainty in the state.
Further it is appropriate to remind the Army Chief to desist from croosing the limits of the mandate which he enjoys.(KNO)