Need Of The Hour

With due respect to Dr Karan Singh (BS, October 7) I strongly oppose the appointment of Dr Singh to head the J&K panel, which would examine all laws implemented in the Jammu and Kashmir after 1953. There are rumours that Dr Singh would enter the Rajya Sabha on National Conference ticket.

Nothing should be done to take Kashmir back to the pre-1953 days. What Kashmir needs today is not a new designation for the chief minister or an additional flag, but programmes to uplift the poor and downtrodden and financial assistance. All steps should be taken to integrate the state with our national mainstream and militancy should be curbed at any cost. Unless the youth of the state are exposed to the situations in other parts of India and inter-state exchange programmes are organised to infuse self-confidence among them, no change of laws would bring peace and harmony. The panel should look into economic aspects, but not any political restructuring of the state.

Since Dr Singh is planning to join the National Conference, it is advisable to have a person to head the panel without any political lineage. The panels report may set the ball of national disintegration rolling, if steps are not taken to visualise the future of this country. The panel members should see beyond the borders of J&K.