Will special status of NE states also be removed: Prakash Ambedkar

Will special status of NE states also be removed: Prakash Ambedkar
Prakash Ambedkar said despite the special status, several North-East states were facing insurgency.

Prakash Ambedkar said the decision to scrap Article 370 was taken hurriedly. (Photo: Twitter)

Hitting out at the Modi government for "hurriedly" scrapping Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Friday asked whether the special status of the North East states will also be removed. He said despite the special status, several North-East states were facing insurgency.

"The decision to scrap Article 370 was taken hurriedly. Before deciding on the move, the people of Kashmir were not taken into confidence," Ambedkar said while addressing a press conference in Nagpur.

"The fundamental rights of the people are the same as per Article 14 of the Constitution. Hence, will the rule implemented in Kashmir be applicable to the states that have special status?" asked the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader.

"Will the special status of states like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam and Mizoram stay intact after the Centre's move of scrapping Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir?" he asked.

"Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement that Aksai Chin is part of India. I see a danger in the statement as till now various insurgent groups in the North East were fighting individually, but now we have given China an issue to bring them together," said Ambedkar.

He said reservation provided to backward classes is also a kind of special status.

"The reserved category also has a special status, but the government is trying to remove that status," he said.

The former MP appealed to the government to provide details about the dams being built by China on the Brahmaputra in Tibet.

"The Brahmaputra river originates in Tibet and comes to India. I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to tell the nation about how many dams China is constructing on the Tibet side," he said.

"If that water is blocked, then the Brahmaputra water, which is perennial now will it remain perennial? Will the seven sisters of North East remain with India if that water does not remain perennial? As per our information, those dams are nearing completion in next 3 to 4 years," he said.

Replying to a query, he said, "Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was not in favour of Article 370 when the Constitution was made in 1950. I feel he was right at that time because the people of Kashmir were attached to India through their heart and mind then."

"But today's situation is different as the people of Kashmir moved away from us psychologically. Babasaheb wanted to implement the Constitution in Kashmir and the people of Kashmir were also ready to accept it. But, now it is not appropriate as the people of Kashmir are no more attached to us through their mind and heart," Ambedkar said.

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A tribute to BR Ambedkar !

A tribute to BR Ambedkar

Wednesday, 07 August 2019 |GURU PRAKASH

The anomalies created due to Article 370 and 35A were erroneous at many levels. The Government’s decision will usher a remarkable transformation in the lives of Dalit, tribal and other backward communities

One of the most significant points that is lost in the debate over the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India is the plight of the subalterns in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The commentariat has missed the impact of removal of Article 370 on the Dalits, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and tribal communities in the State. The socially, politically and economically disadvantaged sections were bereft of any Constitutional benefits, which were meant for their welfare and development.

“You wish India should protect your border, it should build road in your areas, it should supply you food grains and Kashmir should get equal status as India. But the Government of India should have limited powers and Indian people should have no rights in Kashmir. To give consent in your proposal, would be a treacherous thing against the interest of India and I, as the Law Minister of India, will never do”, observed BR Ambedkar on the demand of special status to Jammu & Kashmir.

As someone, who dedicated his life for the cause of the Dalits, Babasaheb carefully pre-empted the implications of a distinctive Constitutional status. He never compromised with the national interest and the interests of the community. He was unfortunately overridden by the then rulers, whose only intentions were to seek power at all costs.

By revoking Article 370, the Narendra Modi Government has undone years of oppression and institutional discrimination of the socially marginalised sections like the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and OBCs.

Coming together of arch-rivals

It was one of the rare occasions where the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) solidly stood with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Affirmative action policies like preferential treatment to the Dalits, tribal and OBC communities became victims of Article 370, which created a permanent roadblock for Central legislations. It is interesting to note that reservation policies were not fully implemented in the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir due to Article 370.

Many Valmiki Dalits in Jammu are forced to become sweepers because the State legislation does not recognise their community, whose members are conventionally manual scavengers, as State subjects. The members of the community cannot apply for a Scheduled Caste certificate or a Government job, except for the post of a sweeper. They have been protesting against this since a very long time. According to a news report published by News18 in 2010, one of the Ministers publicly admitted that, “The demands of the Valimikis are genuine. They are not outsiders but adopted ones. Due to Article 370, giving State subject to them is difficult. In order to solve their situation, we will form a committee consisting of all party members, who can solve their plight soon,” said the then Jammu & Kashmir Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla.

“Being denied SC certificate puts them at a disadvantage and they cannot even obtain a loan in the State to pull themselves out of backwardness. Without residential rights to property, they have no collateral to mortgage. Even after living in Jammu & Kashmir for 62 years, the Valmikis do not have a right to vote in panchayat, municipality or State Assembly elections”, observed Pallavi Sareen in one of the articles on the plight of Valmikis in Jammu & Kashmir.

This was a gross violation of Constitutional values and spirit. Valmikis in the rest of the country are recognised as SC and are entitled to benefits in State-sponsored education and employment schemes. Can a similar class of citizens be treated differently in the same country? It was a matter of embarrassment as it never caught the attention of intellectuals and activists, who have systematically benefitted from atrocity narrative.

The story does not end here. It is surprising that there is no provision of political representation of STs in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. Whereas the Constitution of India has made special arrangements for their equitable representation at critical decision making positions, the tribal communities were still prohibited to enter the legislative chambers of Jammu & Kashmir. With the bifurcation of Ladakh as a separate Union Territory, tribal communities will now get what was due to them since so many decades.

The anomalies created due to Article 370 and Article 35A were erroneous at many levels. The Modi Government’s decision will usher a remarkable transformation in the lives of Dalit, tribal and other backward communities of Jammu & Kashmir.

(The writer is Adviser, Dalit Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) and Assistant Professor at Patna University)