THE statement of RSS chief that constitutional amendments were needed to fully integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country is an eye opener for those who have still illusions about the intentions of the RSS and its affiliates.

It is not surprising because RSS and its political affiliates Bhartiya Jan Sangh and BJP has consistent position about the Article 370. The special status of J&K was always an eyesore for them. The first agitation launched by the Sangh Parivar in early 1950’s from Jammu was on ‘ek vidhan, ek nishan and ek pradhan’.

CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, in a statement issued on October 1, said that Jammu and Kashmir is in turmoil since decades because of political uncertainty in one or the other forms. Wisdom demands that ground realities, essence of which is mass alienation, should be accepted to evolve a political response. People at the helm of affairs should have drawn lessons from historical errors and wrongs and initiated a process of dialogue to rectify those. It needs no mention that special position under Article 370 is the only link between the country and the J&K and should have been strengthened. However, on the contrary, the provisions of the Article 370 have been eroded from time to time. Situation demands these should be open heartedly accepted and restored. However, unfortunately RSS chief wants to abrogate the remaining provisions of the autonomy including Article 35A, which is the essence of special status.

The apprehensions that RSS agenda is to abrogate the special status of Jammu and Kashmir are strengthened by the facts that the pleas which have been filed in the Supreme Court by some organisations and individuals affiliated with the Sangh Parivar against Article 35A are by design. Who will get benefited out of this? None other than those who want to undermine the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the country. It is abundantly clear that RSS has a government at the centre which carries forward its agenda. It is in this context the statement of RSS chief assumes significance. Democratic forces in the country must speak loudly and resist the attempts by the Sangh Parivar to erode the constitutional provisions which essentially are a bridge between Jammu and Kashmir and the country.

The excuse of refugees, which is a humanitarian issue, is unfounded. We firmly believe that all types of refugees deserve to be provided all possible humanitarian assistance. But the political sensitivities can’t be ignored in the garb of rehabilitation of the refugees.