THE recently formed Jammu & Kashmir Awami Mutahida Mahaz (JKAMM, People’s United Front) has expressed its opinion that the remarks made by Narendra Modi seeking abrogation of article 370 of the Indian constitution are not only unwarranted but totally unacceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The AMM has demanded a concrete decision to restore the eroded provisions of this article of faith to its original status in the constitution. In a press statement issued from Srinagar on December 2, the AMM said Modi’s speech in Jammu was motivated to scuttle the constitutional guarantees to Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomous position enshrined in the Indian constitution. The AMM, that comprises some political parties including the CPI(M), has reiterated its unalterable opinion that article 370 of the constitution should act as a bridge between the union and the state and that its provisions which have been eroded from time to time should be restored without any delay. There should be no further erosion of article 370 and the same should be considered as a permanent feature of the constitution of India. The front has reminded that frequent erosions in the provisions of this article have undermined the importance of the unity between the state and the union. Noting that the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate has always been seeking to sharpen communal polarisation through fascistic demagogy, the AMM expressed belief that Modi would never succeed in his nefarious designs to divide Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of regional or communal calls. The statement said, “The communal overtures of such elements are fraught with dangerous consequences for the ideals enshrined in the republican constitution of the country. There is also a dire need to protect and preserve the rich socio-cultural and religious diversity of the state and any division on regional, religious, ethnic or cultural basis is acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”  The AMM also said no one must not remain under the illusion that the Kashmir issue could be resolved by the use of force or browbeating. Kashmir is essentially a political problem and needs a political solution. One hopes that all important stakeholders would understand the dynamics and consequences of this unfortunate problem and explore all peaceful options to settle it. “While fascist forces have been always trying to scuttle the constitutional guarantees to Jammu and Kashmir, we believe the successive secular regimes in the country have also been responsible for the denial of autonomy and spoiling the spirit of article 370. Let it also be made it clear that restoration of autonomy in its original form is essential and cannot be compensated with any other alternatives,” the AMM statement plainly said. The front stressed the necessity for the secular and democratic forces to unitedly counter the communal forces of all varieties and maintain people’s unity. It urged the secular and democratic forces to strengthen their efforts among the people and mobilise them for rebuffing the communal forces, preserve communal amity, defend the composite culture and strengthen the unity of the people. CONVENTION URGES RESTORATION OF CROSS-LOC TIES THE Jammu & Kashmir Awami Muttahida Mahaz (JKAMM) held on November 21, 2013 a special convention in South Kashmir. The convention was attended by distinguished personalities and intellectuals of South Kashmir, apart from common people. It was addressed, among others, by CPI(M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, People’s Democratic Front (PDF) president Hakim Mohammad Yasin, KJNDF president Abdul Rashid Kabuli and Lok Janashakti Party leader Sanjay Saraf. While addressing the convention, CPI(M) state secretary Mohd Yousuf Tarigami described the formation of Awami Muttahida Mahaz (AMM) as the beginning of a process which he said could lead to the formation of an alternative political platform for addressing the burning issues faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir at the present juncture. He said the initial effort in the form of this front might not be equal to the challenges we are facing at present, but he expressed the hope to succeed as we are clear and honest in our agenda and objectives. With its clarity of programme and honesty of purpose, he said, the front could fight all the odds. He invited all the political, intellectual, civil society and other groups to come forward and strengthen the AMM. The CPI(M) leader stressed the fact that the Kashmir issue and other related problems could not be resolved in isolation and that we have to monitor and analyse the developments taking place in the entire South Asia. He highlighted the distinct identity of Kashmir and said that tolerance and mutual brotherhood, which are the hallmarks of Kashmiriyat, have remained intact despite all the assaults and conspiracies. Referring to Afghanistan, Tarigami said international players who are after their own hegemony and domination have destroyed many countries, but they should not be allowed to play the same games in other areas on the pretext of resolving some issues. “Gun of any kind and from any side is not the solution,” he said. He appealed to the leadership of separatist groups to come forward and cooperate in mitigating the problems faced by the people of the state, adding that in the past these leaders have even entered the election fray and remained very active in politics. In his address PDF president Hakim Mohammad Yasin highlighted the aims and objectives of the AMM and said that it would strive for peace, development, dignified life and bright future for Jammu and Kashmir. He criticised the government for its corrupt and objectionable policy regarding recruitment in various government departments, and demanded a uniform policy and criteria for short listing and selection of the candidates who have applied for different government jobs. Hakim Yasin welcomed the recent positive developments in Indo-Pak relations, resulting in the ceasefire on the line of control (LoC). JKNDF president Abdul Rashid Kabuli lauded the people and leadership of South Kashmir for their struggle against repression, corruption and mismanagement of the government. He criticised the apathy of the administration towards South Kashmir and said that the newly formed front would fight against corruption and frauds rampant in all the departments and organisations. In this connection he cited the recent exposure of the bungling in the Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) and said that the persons responsible for these cases of bungling represent the corrupt bureaucracy of the state. Lok Janashakti Party leader Sanjay Saraf alleged that the power hungry political parties are diverting the attention of the people from the real issues whenever elections are eminent. He also alleged that the present coalition government has proved a total failure. He said that the government has taken no concrete and result oriented measures for addressing the burning issues of unemployment, resulting in the growth of frustration among the youth and wastage of their energy. All the leaders of the front who addressed the convention made it clear that political uncertainty is the root cause of all the problems faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They said that India and Pakistan have to resolve all issues amicably and peacefully. Besides stressing on the unity of all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, the AMM leaders urged for restoration of economic and cultural ties among the people across the LoC in order to have long lasting political stability in Jammu and Kashmir. In the convention which was conducted by well known media personality Zafar Farooq Salathi, several resolutions regarding improvement in healthcare, power supply, horticulture and public distribution system were presented and passed. Mohammad Yousuf Ganaie Nairang, secretary of the South Kashmir Civil Society, highlighted the specific problems and demands of South Kashmir including the development of tourism, handicrafts, improvement in healthcare, launching of small scale hydroelectric power projects, upgradation of South Kashmir University campus and opening of the branch of J&K Cultural Academy in South Kashmir.