India has disrespected its own constitution in J&K
Forcing employees to participate in republic day celebrations speaks level of alienation
Before calling others communal Governor should answer why his three out of four advisers are non-Muslims and why from Chief Secretary to District SP’s Muslim officers have been shown the door
Srinagar 23 January: Rejecting Governor Satpal Malik’s allegation that political parties are dividing J&K on communal lines over the circular issued by his administration making it compulsory for state government employees to attend republic day celebrations, AIP President Er. Rasheed has said that the facts are totally opposite to what Governor has claimed. In a statement issued today Er. Rasheed said “Governor has spoken half-truth, as he is absolutely right in revealing that the circular making government employees bound to participate in republic day functions is being issued every year from 2008 and as such the hue and cry being made by NC and PDP carries no meaning, but Mr. Malik needs to be reminded that this argument does not justify the validity of colonial dictate issued by him or his predecessors including Omer Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. Kashmiris must truly understand and expose the hypocrisy of both Mehbooba Mufti and Omer Abdullah and both of them should not make a fool of themselves by talking about the colonial traditions they have introduced. The order itself speaks volumes about alienation on the ground. To make state sponsored functions a success government every year forces not only police men in civic but also government employees to participate in these events. Governor should not forget that he has already bulldozed democracy in the state and it looks like a joke to celebrate the republic day in a state where there is complete lawlessness and the fundamental rights of people of J&K are officially suspended. Had New Delhi faith in its constitution it would not have disrespected state’s special status and never dragged Article 35-A and Article 370 to Supreme Court. While in rest of the country people eagerly wait for republic day and Independence Day functions but in J&K the huge chunk of masses show no interest in such events. One wonders while employees are being forced to republic day functions, many tuition centers are being closed and harassed by security agencies ahead of republic day, thus playing with the carrier of students”. Rejecting Satpal Malik’s claim that political parties are dividing state on communal lines Er. Rasheed said “It should not be difficult for even a layman to understand that who is dividing state on communal lines and whose agenda Mr. Malik is implementing in J&K. Now when New Delhi has appointed fourth advisor to the Governor, one wonders how in a heavily Muslim dominated state not only three out of four advisors are non-Muslims but state Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Secretary and all those holding key postings and positions in civil and police administration are from other community and mostly non-state subjects. May Mr. Governor answer before accusing others of being communal, why could not even a single Muslim officer find place to occupy the chair of DGP, state police intelligence chief, IG or even DIG. It is like conquering Himalaya to find place even as a district SP if you are a Muslim and even if you kill, humiliate and blind your own people just to please your non-Muslim bosses. It is New Delhi and Sang Parivar not Kashmiris dividing state on communal lines and trying to dislodge the majority community form all the key positions”. Er. Rasheed asked Governor is it ever possible that there could be a Muslim chief secretary, DGP and Home secretary posted in office in UP or Assam or some other state. Er. Rasheed accused governor of distorting the facts and trying to justify his agenda of implementing illogical and unfair nefarious designs of BJP and its allies and reiterated that all these cheap tactics and misuse of official position by Mr. Malik are bound to fail and efforts to suppress the majority community will never succeed.