Dawn of new Era! Jammu and Kashmir moving towards full integration

 

 

The BJP led government in its another historic decision on Tuesday declared that the state of Jammu and Kashmir would move towards full national integration after nullification of Article 370 and 35A. "All refugees including from West Pakistan, migrants settled in Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmiri Pandits living outside the state can claim domicile of the UT now", the official handle BJP tweeted.

 

According to the new law, people eligible to domicile certificates are those who are either permanent resident certificate holder of Jammu and Kashmir or ones who fit into the following four mentioned categories-

1. Resided for 15 years/ studied in Jammu and Kashmir for seven years and appeared in class 10th/12th exams.

2. Migrants registered with Relief and Rehab Commissioners

3.Child of several government officials who have served in the UT for 10 years

4. Child of parents who reside outside the UT but either are permanent resident certificate holder or resided for 15 years in the state.

 

 

In is in the year 2019 that the Indian government moved to withdraw the special status conferred on the state of Jammu and Kashmir by Article 370. MHA Amit Shah had then moved a resolution in Parliament to abrogate this provision that allowed the state to draft its own constitution and limited the Union of India’s legislative powers to three areas: foreign affairs, defence and communications. The Centre also revoked Article 35A, which gave the state legislature the power to define permanent residents of the state and grant them such benefits as the exclusive right to buy land.

 

Shah meanwhile also introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, which split the state into two Union territories. This involved carving out Ladakh as a Union territory without a legislature, while Jammu and Kashmir would have a legislative assembly. Soon after Shah’s announcement in Parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019, stating that the Indian Constitution will now fully be applicable to the state. The presidential order came into force at once and superseded the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954.

Since Article 370 was included in the Constitution’s Part XXI, which deals with “Temporary, Transitional and Special provisions", the country there was no reason for it to exist seven decades after its adoption. The shift has no bearing on the state’s accession. “It is not true that Jammu and Kashmir joined India because of Article 370," said the home minister then in the Parliameny. It’s worth recalling that Maharaja Hari Singh, the then ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, signed an Instrument Of Accession to India on 27 October 1947, two years before the Article’s inclusion and within days of the state seeking New Delhi’s aid to repulse an invasion by Pakistan-backed militia.

 

Prosperity needs to be preceded by peace, and the outlook on this could definitely turn into more comfort if the people of the state do not see their lives improved within this reasonable time frame. While recent security measures have caused anxiety and local suspicions have been rife, this move of the Centre is a step to take special care of relations with the state’s population. To that end, the government has also considered developmental initiatives and an economic package that would help businesses flourish and generate jobs. Further, the eventual economic outcome is to hold the keys for the state!