One Constitution, One Flag & Fundamental Rights for all from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is only way out for National Integration

New Delhi. Addressing a massive gathering of political activists and members of the civil society at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi this afternoon, on the eve of Republic Day of India, Prof. Bhim Singh, the Founder of the National Integration Movement by launching National Panthers Party in 1982 has called on the civil society and the political parties to help resolve the J&K problem which is possible only with One Flag, One Constitution and Fundamental Rights for all from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

NPP Supremo expressed regrets that the Parliament of India has shut the doors of democracy for the residents in J&K by sticking a stone wall in the name of Article 370 which was inserted in 1950, though temporarily.

Prof.Bhim Singh expressed sympathies, love and admiration for the people of J&K particularly the majority community in the Valley of Kashmir who with their leadership had raised tri-colour flag in 1947 expressing solidarity with the Indian Flag and rejecting the two-nation theory.

He praised the leadership of Kashmir particularly Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah, Mirza Afzal Baig, Maulana Masoodi, Sohrawardy and other leaders who led the people against any division of the state and stood for India and tri-colour flag. J&K has a separate Flag and separate Constitution which are responsible for discrimination against the residents of J&K.

Prof.Bhim Singh said that the Parliament of India failed to realize the spirit of the leadership of J&K which stood for secular India and secular J&K. National Panthers Party founded in 1982 with a clear mission that the people of all the three regions namely, Ladakh, Kashmir Ghati and Jammu Pradesh should be allowed to grow each region as Constituent parts of the Union of India. Prof.Bhim Singh reminded the Parliament that Bihar, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and North-East were reorganized on the basis of cultural, linguistic and geographical entity.

Prof.Bhim Singh regretted that the Parliament failed to understand the social and political ettiquates of the people of the three regions in J&K.

He said that State was organized in 1846 by Maharaja Gulab Singh under a different situation, circumstances and social and geographical compulsions. When India was launched as a Republic in 1950 the leadership rightly created nearly 21 states whereas J&K was kept out of the Union of India by raising a constitutional wall known as Article 370 though temporary. ‘Temporary’ survived for nearly 67 years while the politicians from Jawaharlal Nehru to Atal Bihari Vajpayee failed to understand the volcanoes hidden under temporary 370. The volcanoes have been smouldering for nearly three decades whereas the Parliament of India has not sufficient art to cure the inflaming disease.

Prof.Bhim Singh accused the Indian leadership in the Parliament for having failed to cure the disease and put off the flames roused by the unacceptable and undesirable provision, though, temporary, inserted in the Indian Constitution in 1950.

Prof.Bhim Singh while addressing the lawyers and the civil society on the eve of Republic Day of India said that,

“Press and the media or rulers in India have no right to criticize the people of J&K, particularly, the Kashmiries if they do not go with Delhi to celebrate 26th January as a Republic Day of India. There is anger because the people of J&K have been kept away from the mainstream, remained deprived of their fundamental rights till this day and have not been able to enjoy the fruits of democracy which the people (citizens) in the rest of the country have been sharing. Prof.Bhim Singh quoted the recent example that Human Rights Commission of India has taken a serious note on the cruelty to the animals in Tamilnadu which was witnessed in the past two weeks. This is a great thing and reflects the spirit of democracy in India."

Prof.Bhim Singh wondered on the silence of the same National Human Rights Commission which remained mute and silent when hundreds of school-going children, minors in Kashmir were pumped with pellets (bullets). This inhuman tragedy continued for days. Where was the National Human Rights Commission and where were the human rights activists. This discrimination with the Indian citizens residing in J&K shall end only when the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution of India extend to every corner of J&K. Even POK and Gilgit form integral part of the State of J&K which acceded to the Union of India by Maharaja Hari Singh on 26th October, 1947. Let Parliament awake and let the civil society understand the grievous injury caused to the people of J&K by keeping it out of the scope of the Indian Constitution and Fundamental Rights which are enjoyed by every Indian except the citizens of India living in J&K.

How does it matter whether you celebrate Republic Day in J&K or not?

Hastakshep