DMK president M.K. Stalin on Monday led the political onslaught from Tamil Nadu on the Centre’s decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of the special status accorded to it under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcate the State into two Union territories.
The AIADMK, which supported the move in the Rajya Sabha, came under attack from many political parties, including the DMK and Congress.
Terming the Centre’s action as a “murder of democracy”, Mr. Stalin said, “It is highly condemnable that the AIADMK has supported the move. The party should rename itself as All India Bharatiya Janata Party.”
He urged the Centre to put on hold the President’s notification amending the provisions of the Article 370, effectively taking away the special status bestowed upon the valley, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019.
Mr Stalin reiterated the DMK’s unshakable faith in India’s security and sovereignty and pointed out that it had taken a patriotic stand and extended support during challenges such as the Indo-China war, Indo-Pakistan war and the Kargil intrusion. “We never bothered whether the country was ruled by the Congress or the BJP. The DMK has always opposed abrogation of Article 370. It was firm that the special status for Jammu and Kashmir should not be dispensed with,” he said.
It was highly condemnable that instead of addressing pressing issues like the financial crisis and unemployment, the BJP government had abrogated the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and it had happened at a time when there was no elected government in the state, the DMK leader said. “The government’s decision proves that it has ulterior motives since it has not consulted the leaders of the political parties (in the valley), kept them under house arrest, cut off communications and created an emergency (like situation),” he alleged.
Describing it as a ‘Black Day’, TNCC president K.S. Alagiri said the Centre’s decision would spell doom for the social fabric of the nation. "Already, the BJP government is dividing the people of the country along caste, religious and language lines. This move will only widen those fault lines," he said in Dindigul.
"The AIADMK walked out (on triple talaq) and created a drama to try to win the minority votes in the Vellore poll. But today it has supported the removal of special status for Jammu and Kashmir. The people will never forgive them for this," he said.
‘Murdering democracy’
CPI(M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan said, "This is just one of the chapters of the assault being orchestrated by the Centre on State governments and rights of States. The BJP, drunk on power, is murdering democracy."
Terming the decision extremely regressive and autocratic, Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan questioned the government’s attitude to shut down the opposition by force.
"It was demonetisation the last term and Article 370 this term," he said. Such a major decision should have been taken up after discussion in Parliament.
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) leader Jawahirullah charged that the idea behind the move was to give away Jammu and Kashmir in pieces to corporates and isolate the Muslims living in the State.
IUML leader K.M. Kader Mohideen said the arrest of political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir and the mobilisation of armed forces there reminded one of the Emergency.
AMMK founder TTV Dhinakaran, in a tweet, said, "This move will only lead to the situation precipitating further in the volatile State and will lead to an increase in terrorism by feeding on this tension."
Creation of industries
TMC president G.K. Vasan said the decision would lead to creation of more industries in Jammu and Kashmir, lead to entrepreneurs setting up businesses there and generally lead to an increase in employment.
"This will lead to terrorism coming to an end in the Valley and will bring harmony to the people there," he said.
AISMK leader R. Sarathkumar said it was bold and historic move.
