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Cautious RSS tells supporters to welcome Modi govt’s J&K move without being jingoistic

RSS functionaries say scrapping Articles 35A and 370 and bifurcating the state will establish the sovereignty of the Constitution over Jammu and Kashmir.

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New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has adopted a cautious approach on the Narendra Modi government’s decision to scrap Articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, and bifurcate the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories — J&K and Ladakh.

The RSS, which led the battle for the abrogation of the articles since 1954, informally cautioned its cadres and supporters to welcome these developments without getting jingoistic.

The organisation has specifically asked its cadres in Jammu and Kashmir to be on high alert and ensure that the atmosphere remains conducive in the state. The initial feedback it has received from Jammu and Kashmir indicates that the decision has been welcomed largely by the population there, cutting across caste, creed and religion.

“There is no need to show unnecessary aggression. What happened today is a victory of the national thought process. We are happy about it, but we would like all stakeholders to come together,” a senior RSS functionary said, echoing the views of many others.

“The beginning has been good as most of the representatives cutting across political parties have supported the Centre’s move on Jammu and Kashmir.”


Also read: How erasing Article 370 became an article of faith for RSS and BJP


Establishing sovereignty of Constitution

Functionaries also said they did not want the latest developments to be seen and judged on party lines.

“One should not see it as a victory or defeat of a particular political party, one shouldn’t see it from the Hindu-Muslim perspective also. We see it as the completion of an unfinished task — the implementation of the Constitution of India. This is not the victory of a particular political party or Hindus, it is the victory of a nationalist thought,” a functionary said.

The RSS feels that the Modi government has established the sovereignty of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir, and this would help in removing misgovernance and corruption.

“Now, affirmative action can be taken for the welfare of the weaker sections of the society. The socially- and economically-marginalised sections have suffered a lot, it is time to take affirmative action to undo the wrongs done to them,” said a senior RSS functionary.


Also read: The constitutional questions that arise from the end of Jammu and Kashmir as a state


Course-correction

Sangh functionaries also say that making Ladakh a separate Union Territory would help to do some course-correction. “It is a strategically-important area which had been neglected; now it will be developed fully. It is important to have focus on Ladakh due to China being at the doorstep,” another functionary said.

The reorganisation of the state will correct the “regional imbalance”, and sound the death knell for terrorism, the Sangh feels.

“There is still some way to go, but we think the right beginning has been made. After scrapping of the 1954 order, course-correction has just begun. It needs support of all stakeholders and it has to be a nationalist effort,” the functionary said.

The RSS issued a short response to the developments Monday, but it is likely to put out a detailed response in a day or two.

“We are monitoring the developments closely. We will come out with a detailed response once the bills related to Jammu and Kashmir are passed in Parliament,” said Sangh sources.

The writer is CEO of Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra, and author of the book ‘Know About RSS’.


Also read: Army says enough troops at border & LoC if Pakistan redeploys soldiers from Afghan side


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