Kashmiri Pandit organization demands restoration of Article 370

An organization of migrant Kashmiri Pandits have demanded the withdrawal of the decision to revoke the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The organization calls for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

As the country is ahead of the first anniversary of the Abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, an organization of migrant Kashmiri Pandits have requested the government to retract is decision and restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reconciliation, Relief and Rehabilitation, an organization made by Kashmiri Pandits, has demanded the restoration of Article 370 in the state. “We demand immediate restoration of statehood and special status to Jammu and Kashmir”, said the Chairman of the organization, Satish Mahaldar, in a statement.

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“The Indian constitution ensures the right to equality that extends to individuals, communities, religions, regions and all social and political institutions. The right to equality ensures non-discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, region or any other social and political sub-categories”, said the chairman in a statement. “Never before has a state been downgraded. This is not done in a democracy. One can’t have a military solution to a political situation and can’t go to war with their own people”, he further added.

While asserting on the fact that a democratic government is of the people, for the people and by the people, he urged the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the government to restore the specials status in the state. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are your own people. Love them. As a good gesture, confer special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The representatives/parliamentarians are for the people, by the people and they need to understand the aspirations and wishes of the people”, he stated.

While asking for special provisions and improvement in law and order situation in the state, the group has also emphasized on the fact that there are states in the country which still enjoy special status as per the Indian constitution. These states include, Arunanchal Pradesh, Assam,  Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, etc.

Article 370 provided a special autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, on August 5, 2019, the special status was revoked by the Narendra Modi government, dividing the state into two union territories and taking away its ‘autonomous’ status. The article was removed under a presidential order as stated by the Home Minister Amit Shah, in a statement at the Rajya Sabha.