December 11, 2023
Md Nadimul Haque’s speech in the Rajya Sabha on The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
Sir, I thank you very much for giving me a chance to speak on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Kashmir is a cradle of dreams. It is the sanctuary of hopes for 13.6 million Kashmiris. Kashmir is the jewel in the crown of India. The Government has made a habit of bulldozing legislations. Of every ten legislation, 3.5 are Ordinances. But I hope that this House deliberates on Kashmir. Let our deliberations be more than just jumlas and election gimmicks. Let them be the resounding voice that calls for justice and the recognition of the Kashmiri people’s right to adult franchise and to be governed by their elected representatives. Sir, what Jammu and Kashmir and the Union of India had — I stress ‘had’ — was a special understanding of the unique historical and cultural identity of the people of Kashmir and a deep sense of constitutional respect. What is the Government’s rationale behind the Lt. Governor nominating Members to the State Assembly? This indicates that the Government has no intention to conduct elections. The nomination of these members ideally falls within the purview of the elected State Legislative Assembly. This contradicts the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The verdict dated 11th December, 2023, today, specifies that elections to the Legislative Assembly cannot wait for the restoration of statehood. Sir, this Bill reflects the Government’s profound disregard for the Constitution, parliamentary democracy and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. While the Bill was being discussed in Lok Sabha, there were mentions of the Flag being hoisted and movies being screened in Kashmir. Years ago, in the very same House, Shrimati Sushma Swaraj had said that ordinary men are not affected by fancy things. The ordinary people of Kashmir are affected by ordinary things. In the freezing winters of December, ordinary rural wage workers in Kashmir are affected by the unemployment rate being over 21 per cent, one of the highest in the country. In the freezing winters of December, ordinary families in Kashmir are affected by the twelve to sixteen hour long power cuts. Sir, please remember that this is the longest the State has seen in two decades. In the freezing winters of December, 66 per cent ordinary villages in Kashmir are affected… सर, हम लोग हर व� उनको सुनतेहैं। Sir, in the freezing winters of December, ordinary families in Kashmir are affected by twelve to sixteen hour long power cuts; I repeat. Please remember that this is the longest the State has seen in two decades. In the freezing winters of December, 66 per cent ordinary villages in Kashmir are affected by not having access to functional household tap water connections. In the freezing winters of December, as we sit in the comfort of these chambers in New Delhi, let us not forget the biting cold that seeps into the bones of those in Kashmir, grappling with the basic necessity of employment, electricity or clean water. When the Government speaks about representation and expression of people’s mandate, it reeks of double standards. I ask this Government, whom does it aim to serve by crushing academic and political dissent? Why did India rank 161st out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index? Why do studies show that in more than 198 serious attacks on reporters between 2014 to 2019, forty journalists were killed? What a shame! Sir, the Government wants States to follow the Centre. But, how can we expect State Legislatures to be accountable when the legislature of the Union, that is, the Parliament sends only one out of every ten Bills for scrutiny? How can we expect State Governments to function effectively when the Union Government refuses to release funds that rightfully belong to them? Since December, 2021, the Government at the Centre has blocked more than Rs.18,000 crores for West Bengal under MGNREGA, Awas Yojana, Gramin Sadak Yojana and National Social Assistance Programme. Despite continuous protests, letters and appeals from my party’s leaders, Members and wage workers, there has been nothing but silence. Instead of cooperative federalism, our efforts have been met with a deafening lack of response. This is not ‘sabka saath, sabka vikaas’. This is ‘kuchh logon ka saath, kuch logon ka vikaas’. The Government’s politics are based on exclusion. But, it will not work in West Bengal because the children of West Bengal sing with their heads held high… Okay, Sir. Okay, Sir. I accept your… Sir, the Government is boasting that everything is ideal in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019. I would like to remind the House once again that it is not just about tourism. Allow me to share four points. The solid waste management under Swachh Bharat Mission, more than sixty per cent villages do not have it in Kashmir. Under Ayushman Bharat, 7,000 ineligible beneficiaries and three lakh incorrect household IDs have been found. Under Ujjwala Yojana, there is below average consumption. Yet, the Government boasts of normalcy. How can the Government boast normalcy when the people of Kashmir are engulfed in the chilling embrace of unrest and uncertainty? I only say that this is not about politics of mere tokenism any more. This is about the faith of 13.6 million Kashmiris whose destinies are determined by everyone but themselves. “नक़्श हैहर ज़ुल्म िजस का वादी-ए-कश्मीर पर उसनेदहशत-गदर्िलखा अमन की तस्वीर पर कािहली की लग गई दीमक हर इक तदबीर पर इ�क्तफ़ा करके रह गया हर कश्मीरी तक़दीर पर”। نقش ہے ہر ظلم جس کا وادی کشمیر پر اس نے دہشت گرد لکھا امن کی تصویر پر کاہلی کی لگ گئی دیمک ہر ایک تدبیر پر اکتفا کرکے ره گیا ہر کشمیری تقدیر پر
