Autonomy report on Kashmir, a backward step: RSS - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Opposing the report for granting autonomous status to Kashmir, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has criticised the Central Government for taking a 'backward step and said the report is against a 1994 Parliament resolution that termed Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India. "The move to go back to pre-1953 status (for Jammu and Kashmir) and demand for autonomy is an effort to take the country backward despite Parliament passing a resolution in 1994 that the state is an integral part of India. All political parties, despite differences, should voice their protest against any such move," said Sangh Joint General Secretary Madan Das Devi here on Thursday. Citing observations in the report, Devi lashed out at the government for acting against the emotions of Indian citizens. He alleged there was discrimination within the state causing imbalances in administrative structure. "Delimitation was conducted throughout the country except Jammu and Kashmir. The area under Jammu and Ladakh are bigger; the population of Jammu and Ladakh is more whereas the number of assembly seats of Kashmir valley is more. As a result they (people from Kashmir valley) dominate. They have control over funds, there is prosperity. These two regions are already being discriminated and yet they want autonomy. What is this for?" Devi said. He slammed the Government for allegedly indulging in "secret diplomacy" with "separatists" and said the autonomy report was an indication that it has given in to the pressure of "people indulging in separatist politics".