Srinagar, Feb 08: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of Parliament from Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi on Wednesday raised a volley of issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha.
Speaking on the motion of thanks on the President’s address, Masoodi took pot shots at the government accusing it of undercutting state’s rights and getting governors work as political agents.
“In Keshwanand Bharti case, the Supreme Court held that federalism is the basic structure of the Constitution. However there are instances across the country where governors are not giving due assent to legislative bills passed by state legislatures. Therefore there’s no reason for us to join the motion of thanks on the President’s address,” he added.
He further contended that J&K continues to remain under the bureaucratic rule for eight years now and that there was no semblance of normalcy in the region.
“Govt is making tall claims on democracy but why is that democracy being denied to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. If the situation is normal there then why aren’t the elections being held,” he said adding, “Jammu and Kashmir was denuded of its special status and bifurcated ditching all constitutional norms.
Masoodi said nearly 16000 people were arrested. “Many of them still continue to languish in Jails across the country. Eminent religious leaders like Moulana Dawoodi and Moulana Veeri are among them. There is no reason for us to support this motion,” he added.
Drawing the attention of the chair towards the bulldozer rampage, Masoodi said that every morning bulldozers are sent towards settlements across to unleash destruction. “Jammu and Kashmir isn’t the only place where people occupy state lands. In Gujarat nearly 30% of settlements are situated on state land and in the financial capital of our country the percentage stands at 50%. We don’t see such rampage there. Why is that J&K is being accorded a different treatment? Are we part and parcel of this country? If unauthorized colonies and encroachments across the country are being converted into freehold rights, why is only JK being singled out?
