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Getting wise counsel imperative for rulers
Getting wise counsel imperative for rulers.Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was sworn in Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on March 1, 2015.Immediately after, he instructed the police to initiate a process of releasing all those political prisoners in the state against whom no criminal charges are registered.Among those released is Masarat Alam Bhat.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was sworn in Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on March 1, 2015.Immediately after, he instructed the police to initiate a process of releasing all those political prisoners in the state against whom no criminal charges are registered.Among those released is Masarat Alam Bhat.
The 47 years old , Kashmiri pro-freedom leader is the General Secretary of the All Party Hurriyat Conference. Joining the Hurriat in 1991, Alam spent more than 15 years in jail. Immediately after his release from the Jail on March, 9,2015, Alam said: "In a democracy, why jail activists?" With Alam's release, the demand for release of other Political prisoners in the country, particularly from North East is increasing.
Such demand and response is not devoid of any precedent. On April, 30, 1946, Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu was sworn in as the Premier (As the Chief Ministers were known under the 1935 Government of India Act) of the Composite Madras State. "As a priority basis", for the first time in the history of India, "The Ministry took a decision to release all political prisoners and to refund fines collected by the previous government from the villagers".
On 2nd May, sixty nine prisoners, connected with the Quit India Movement were released; an order of arrest in a bomb case was cancelled. Restricting the movements of the political activists and the orders of termination of the services of some teachers were revoked; all in the month of May itself. (Page, 127: "Supplement to Autobiography of Prakasam: 'Journey of My Life." ). It is said that one among the beneficiaries was E K Nayanar of the Communist Party of India, who later, thrice became the Kerala CM.
And again, perhaps for the last time, after the formation of the Andhra State in 1953, the Cabinet headed by Prasakam took a momentous decision: "Amnesty for Release of All Prisoners." (Page, 225: "Supplement to Autobiography of Prakasam: 'Journey of My Life." ). Though many cultural and linguistic organisations, the final shot was fired by Potti Sriramulu, that caused the creation of the Andhra State. Immediately after the formation of the State, the Communists demanded that their party leaders and workers, detained for the cause shall be released.
There was no unanimity in the Cabinet. The majority opinion was in favour of releasing prisoners and detenues selectively. Prakasam dramatically asked (For which characteristic feature, he had rare equals): “If the political prisoners, committed and facing grave charges as murder and sedition were to be released, what is wrong in releasing other prisoners too."
After a prolonged discussion for three days and for more than 10 hours, at last there was unanimity in the Cabinet to release all the detenues and prisoners, including the undertrial prisoners. "Votaries of personal liberty praised Prakasam; 'that even Jawarharlal Nehru did not do such a daring thing on the historic occasion of India attaining Independence."
Now, the BJP is already facing a crisis for joining the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir; particularly with regard to its compromising attitude about Article 370. It has been for decades maligning the Congress Party and its government at the Centre for its soft-peddling towards successive governments in J&K and for being firm on the retention of the Article.
Following the unilateral decision, PDP Chief Minister Mufti, BJP is facing more embarrassment than its humiliating defeat in Delhi at the hands of AAP. The blood-thirsty tyrant, conqueror, Alexander's life was ended by a Malaria insect; whose life span is 24 hours. If BJP thinks that it is on a winning spree, let BJP study, before hand, the strength of mosquitoes: AAP and the PDP.
Keeping in view the minority rights assured under the International Conventions, the coalition in Jammu and Kashmir shall survive to work for an everlasting peace in the Valley and the plain. I wish Mufti to become another Prakasam. For the success of democracy, he must at least consult, if not obtain concurrence from his alliance partners and colleagues. (The writer is president of Gadicharla Foundation, Kurnool)
By K C Kalkura
