MARTYRS’ DAY SPEECH | ‘People should safeguard Article 370; Indo-Pak dialogue must for peace; Will rehabilitate all flood victims’

J&K Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Monday urged people to protect Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, stating that State Assembly is the “powerful institution which has the prerogative to accept or reject laws passed in the Indian Parliament.”

Mufti’s assertions came barely few days after reports indicated that an RSS-backed think-tank—J&K Study Centre (JKSC)—is set to challenge Article 35A, an outgrowth of Article 370, in the Supreme Court to seek its abrogation. “It is your vote that has brought us to power.

Your vote is powerful and if you want to safeguard J&K’s identity and special status, use this vote for that,” the Chief Minister told a gathering of PDP supporters at Martyrs’ Graveyard in old Srinagar here, after paying floral tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931. Mufti also offered ‘special fateh prayers’ for the martyrs.

He said J&K’s Assembly is “most powerful in entire India.” “Our Assembly has the power and prerogative to accept or reject any law passed in the Indian parliament,” said Mufti, who was accompanied by senior PDP ministers and leaders including Naeem Akther, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Syed Altaf Bukhari, Muhammad Ashraf Mir and others.

DGP K Rajendra also accompanied the Chief Minister while laying wreaths on the graves of the martyrs.

Mufti said J&K has a separate constitution, separate flag and separate identity. “No doubt we have tri-colour also,” Mufti said.

Asking the people to safeguard state’s special status, the Chief Minister hailed people and leadership of the State during the freedom struggle of India for “rising above religious considerations and acceding to the country which was an embodiment of secularism.”

“It gives me immense pride to say that J&K was part of the collective struggle in the subcontinent against the British and their cohorts,” he said.

The Chief Minister also hinted that J&K Assembly would take a final call on the Land Acquisition Law being enacted by the Indian Parliament.

Mufti said July 13 martyrs gave a new dimension to state’s history. “They rose up against injustice done to people,” he said.

Welcoming the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Uffa, Russia, the Chief Minister said he has always been saying that “goli say nahi, baat banegi boli say (talks, not gun is the solution to problems)”.

“I have been saying this in 2002 also. We have suffered since 1947 immensely. Dialogue is the only way to resolve issues,” he said. “I have seen power many times. I don’t have greed for power or chair, but I have a mission and vision for J&K.”

On rehabilitation of flood victims, the Chief Minister said he is committed to ensure rehabilitation of every sufferer. “I won’t rest till every flood victim is rehabilitated,” he said. “In 2010, Central Water Commission (CWC) had predicted floods in Kashmir and suggested Rs 2500 crore plan to prevent future floods. My aim is to revive that project which involves dredging of river Jhelum and strengthening of river embankments. I also intend to remove encroachments from flood spill channels and make them functional to absorb pressure of water in case of heavy rainfall.”

He said even today, most of the areas are inundated and river Jhelum is flowing closer to danger mark. “I pray to Almighty not to create a situation like the one we saw in last September,” he said.

Mufti also castigated his political opponents for saying “what I did when I was in power in 2002.”

“The first thing I did was do away with the Special Task Force. I released all those who were in prison. I ensured round-the-clock power in month of Ramadan,” he said.

Mufti said the government led by him “left no stone unturned” to make the Public Service Commission functional. “This commission was defunct for the past more than a year. My focus is on good governance and to eradicate unemployment,” he said.

Unveiling his ‘vision’ for Srinagar, Mufti said he won’t announce Srinagar would be a smart city, but “my aim is it should be a city of international standards.”

“I have seen downtrodden people living in old city. I have seen four families living in one house. Then there are various craftsmen, who kept their art alive despite curfews and untoward situations,” he said. “My government is mulling a comprehensive policy for Srinagar and its residents, especially for Shehr-e-Khas (old city).”

CNS ADDS

Local news agency CNS said Mufti became second Chief Minister after Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah to address people at Martyrs’ graveyard at Naqashbandh Sahab Srinagar. Quoting PDP sources, CNS said the last time any Chief Minister has addressed people there was Sheikh Abdullah before the start of militancy.