After the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370, which accorded special status for Jammu and Kashmir, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan has appealed for peace in the Valley.
Taking to Twitter, Malala Yousafzai said on Thursday, “The people of Kashmir have lived in conflict since I was a child, since my mother and father were children, since my grandparents were young. For seven decades, the children of Kashmir have grown up amidst violence.”
Expressing concern over the safety of the people of Kashmir, especially women and children, Malala said, “I am worried about the safety of the Kashmiri children and women, the most vulnerable to violence and the most likely to suffer losses in conflict.”
“There is no need for us to continue to suffer and hurt each other,” Malala asserted.
Appealing to the international community to ensure peace in the Kashmir, Malala said, “I hope all South Asians, the international community and concerned authorities respond to their suffering. Whatever disagreements we may have, we must always defend human rights, prioritise the safety of children and women and focus on peacefully resolving the seven-decade-old conflict in Kashmir.”
On Monday, the Indian Government announced the move to abrogate provisions of Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir. The announcement was made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha.
The latest move by the government gives full applicability of the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, only a set of limited provisions such as foreign relations, communication and defence had jurisdiction over Jammu and Kashmir.
This means the separate constitution of Jammu and Kashmir ceases to be in operation in the state. With state constitution rendered inoperative and Articles 1-2 applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, the central government got the power to redraw the map of the state.
The Union Territory of Jammu-Kashmir will have a legislature. Its new status will be comparable with that of Delhi and Puducherry, only two other Union Territories to have legislatures of their own. The Governor of Jammu and Kashmir will now become Lieutenant Governor.
Ladakh will have a separate identity as Union Territory much like five other centrally administered areas which don’t have separate legislatures of their own. Its status will be comparable with that of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh and others.
Here is her full statement:
The people of Kashmir have lived in conflict since I was a child, since my mother and father were children, since my grandparents were young. For seven decades, the children of Kashmir have grown up amidst violence.
I care about Kashmir because South Asia is my home – a home I share with 1.8 billion people including Kashmiris. We represent different cultures, religions, languages, cuisines and customs. And I believe we all can live in peace. I know we can appreciate the gifts that all of our people, in all their diversity, contribute to our world.
There is no need for us to continue to suffer and hurt each other. Today I am worried about the safety of the Kashmiri children and women, the most vulnerable to violence and the most likely to suffer losses in conflict.
I hope all South Asians, the international community and concerned authorities respond to their suffering. Whatever disagreements we may have, we must always defend human rights, prioritise the safety of children and women and focus on peacefully resolving the seven-decade-old conflict in Kashmir.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in
Updated On: August 8, 2019