DOMA Confederation demands restoration of pre-August 5, 2019 status in IIOJK
Jammu: The Confederation of Dalits, OBCs, Minorities and Adivasis (DOMA), occupied Jammu and Kashmir, has demanded the restoration of the pre-August 5, 2019 special status of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying it is essential to protect the land, employment and identity rights of the territory’s permanent residents.
According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing a press conference in Jammu, DOMA Confederation President R.K. Kalsotra said occupied Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019, without the consent of the people. He said the resolution recently passed by the elected Assembly in support of restoring the pre-August 5, 2019 status reflected the aspirations of the majority of the people.
The DOMA leaders questioned why Jammu and Kashmir could not be restored to full statehood when legislative bodies in other Union Territories had been granted executive and financial powers. They said the loss of statehood had resulted in the erosion of democratic rights, delays in reservation benefits for SC, ST and OBC employees, neglect of reserved-category job backlogs and continued caste-based discrimination.
The speakers also expressed concern over what they described as the loss of identity, economic hardships and unemployment faced by the people after the revocation of the territory’s special status. They urged the authorities to restore full statehood and constitutional safeguards, including Article 35-A, to protect the rights of the permanent residents.
Senior DOMA leader Sardar Narinder Singh Khalsa said the people of the occupied territory were seeking the restoration of their democratic and constitutional rights along with full statehood.
Amir-ud-din Kasana reminded the ruling National Conference of its commitments regarding the restoration of Article 35-A and statehood.
Ashu Peter Mattoo reaffirmed the DOMA Confederation’s commitment to continue supporting the people of the occupied territory in their struggle for constitutional rights, social justice and restoration of full statehood.
