Press Statement issued by Shri Arun Kumar, National Convener, J&K Study Centre

Press Statement issued by Shri Arun Kumar, National Convener, J&K Study Centre
Bhubaneswar, March 05,2012.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, the national convenenor of J&K Study Centre, a Jammu based workgroup on Jammu and Kashmir affairs, Arun Kumar has emphasized the need of deeper understanding and change of perception on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
Contrary to popular perception in the country that J&K is a separatist state, he said, out of a total geographical area of 1lakh 1 thousand lakh sq. kilometers of area 86 thousand sq. km area comprising of Ladakh and Jammu have never ever seen an anti-Bharat protest or demonstration so far.
Whatever anti-Bharat protest that we are seeing on the media are confined to only Kashmir valley comprising of 15thousand sq. km area. Which bears the testimony to the fact that a false perception has been created that the whole of J&K is seeking separation and the people are against Bharat.
Adding further to his tantalizing facts, he further said that even the leaders of separatist voice in the state are all confined to Kashmir Valley, and represent only the Kashmiri speaking Sunni Muslims, a small sect of the population in the valley. The Shia and Gujjar Muslims who comprise 12% and 18% have never vented anti-Bharat views, neither any separatist leader have come up from these two sections.
It is a Irony that whenever any public discussion takes place in any of the platforms, these separatist leaders, representing a minority view, project themselves as the sole representatives of the people’s voice in Kashmir.
He, in his address, said that the general perception on Kashmir today is dominated by myths i.e. plebiscite, special status in Art. 370 and dispute over its accession, perpetuated by vested interests and international conspiracies.
He called for a deeper study of the issue through the milestone documents which are all in the public domain with objective and proper interpretation.
Elaborating further on the issue, Kumar said that PoK, legally, historically and constitutionally belongs to Bharat and from strategic considerations, both security and economic, Bharat should make all out efforts to get back this territory from Pakistan’s occupation and there is a favourable opinion among the people of this region to come back to India as they have been badly exploited by Pakistan from all angles.
On Art -370, a much discussed issue in the academic and intellectual circle, he made it clear that the article originally was purported to be in effect for a temporary period of time and the constitution still is clear about it. But, massive frauds have been committed behind the cover of this article and there is a need to abrogate this provision, which is possible through a simple presidential order.