Jammu: Following his party’s nationwide campaign, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Ghulam Ahmed Mir on Tuesday strongly advocated for a caste census in UT, arguing that it would help identify the exact number of various sections of society and ensure benefits reach all deserving groups.
Taking part in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s address, Mir asserted that the people should neither turn Article 370 into an issue of irritation nor wear it as an amulet around their necks and called upon the governments in J&K and the Centre to negotiate for an amicable solution that ensures safeguards for the next 200 years.
He further focused on negotiation instead of confrontation to find out amicable solution over new safeguards and said, “However, there should be a discussion on what safeguards Jammu and Kashmir had under Article 370 and how we can demand similar safeguards in the future. We have already passed a resolution on this matter.”
“The J&K government and the Centre should negotiate and find a way that satisfies both. The safeguards should be ensured for the next 200 years”, he said.
“I believe that Article 370 is just a serial number in the Indian Constitution. The numbering continues — 371, 372, 373 — and today, after multiple amendments, the Indian Constitution has reached serial number 435,” he said.
He suggested that future amendments could create new provisions for J&K.
“If something has to be given to Jammu and Kashmir, whether by Prime Minister Narendra Modi or any other government in the future, it will happen only when this serial number crosses 435. Perhaps, we will find our safeguards under a new serial number,” he remarked.
Seeking the immediate restoration of statehood for J&K, Mir said reinstating its status would “resolve most of the problems facing the region by empowering the chief minister, democracy and governance”.
He also welcomed the statement by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in his address, saying it had generated fresh hope among the people.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately fulfil his commitment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Mir strongly advocated for a caste census in J&K, arguing that it would help identify the exact number of various sections of society and ensure benefits reach all deserving groups.
“Today, a national and state-level issue is the caste census. Many states have already undertaken it. There are multiple reservation categories but we do not know the exact numbers of OBCs, SCs or other castes,” he said.
He pointed towards the existing reservation system, citing cases where individuals held multiple caste certificates for different benefits.
“I have examples where a single person holds OBC, ST and other certificates issued by the government. Whenever and wherever it benefits them, they use different certificates accordingly,” Mir said.
He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to “conduct a caste census in Jammu and Kashmir as a long-term measure to bring clarity”.
