POK Sankalpa Diwas a step to reaffirmation of our Sovereignty

Almost a year after 12 March 1993 Bombay serial blasts, the Parliament of India undertook a resolution which is known as POK Sankalpa Diwas. Both Houses of Parliament on February 22, 1994, passed a resolution unanimously on Jammu & Kashmir which has neither been rescinded nor amended so far. 

The Resolution noted deep concern on Pakistan’s role in imparting training to the terrorists in camps located in Pakistan and Occupied Kashmir, supplying them with weapons and funds, as well as providing them assistance in infiltrating into India with the intent to create disorder, disharmony, and subversion. It called upon Pakistan to stop its support to terrorism immediately and desist from the campaign of making of false and defamatory statements against India. 

The Resolution declared that the state of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India and any attempts to separate it will be resisted by all necessary means. It demanded that Pakistan vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression. It firmly determined  that all attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely.

Since 1970 to 1993 there had been at least 2219 terror attack incidents that left 6828 dead and 8,042 injured. The 12 March 1993 Bombay serial blasts was the single largest till then, where a series of 12 bomb explosions shook Mumbai and the nation at large. These were the first serial-bomb-blasts of their kind in the world. It resulted in 257 fatalities and 717 injuries. Surprisingly the then-Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar from Indian National Congress, announced thirteen blasts, including a fictitious bomb in a Muslim quarter of the city, to prevent the events from taking on a communal hue, which was intune with the minority appeasement policy that was ailing India during Congress rule.

The Parliament passed the Resolution on POK due to public sentiment but no retaliation against Pakistan for nurturing and harbouring terrorists were taken. Obviously from 1994 to 2015 the Congress government saw at least 7763 terror attacks, that left    12014 dead and 20772 injured in its aftermath. The most prominent amongst them is the attack on the Indian Parliament on 13 December 2001.

Only after the ushering in of the BJP government in the centre did the nation see some form of retaliation against Pakistan and the terror camps in its soil. The current government has reiterated the POK Sankalpa and is taking prudent steps to fulfill the Resolution taken by the Indian Parliament on 22 February 1994. Therefore remembering the POK Sankalpa Diwas has come into relevance.

Text of the  Parliament Resolution on 22 February 1994.

“This House” 

Notes with deep concern Pakistan’s role in imparting training to the terrorists in camps located in Pakistan and Occupied Kashmir, the supply of weapons and funds, assistance in infiltration of trained militants including foreign mercenaries into Jammu and Kashmir with the avowed purpose of creating disorder disharmony and subversion:

Reiterates that the militants trained in Pakistan are indulging in murder, loot and other heinous crimes against the people, taking them hostage and creating an atmosphere of terror;

Condemns strongly the continued support and encouragement Pakistan is extending to subversive and terrorist activities in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir;

Calls upon Pakistan to stop forthwith its support to terrorism, which is in violation of the Simla Agreement and the internationally accepted norms of inter-State conduct and is the root cause of tension between the two countries;

Reiterates that the Indian political and democratic structures and the Constitution provide for firm guarantees for the promotion and protection of human rights of all its citizens;

Regards Pakistan’s anti-India campaign of calumny, and falsehood as unacceptable and deplorable.

Notes with deep concern the highly provocative statements emanating from Pakistan urges Pakistan to refrain from making statements which vitiate the atmosphere and incite public opinion Expresses regret and concern at the pitiable conditions and violations of human rights and denial of democratic freedoms of the people in those areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which are under the illegal occupation of Pakistan;

On behalf of the People of India,

Firmly declares that:

a) The state of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India and any attempts to separate it from the rest of the country will be resisted by all necessary means;

b) India has the will and capacity to firmly counter all designs against its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity;

and demands that –

c) Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, which they have occupied through aggression;

and resolves that –

d) All attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely.

The Resolution was unanimously adopted, Mr. Speaker: The Resolution is unanimously passed.

February 22, 1994

Source – Parliamentary Debates: Official report, Volume 170, Issue 2, 1994, p. 237

Covid 19 ushers new perspectives in Uttar Pradesh

Elaborating on the Covid 19 situation in Uttar Pradesh, the CM Sri Adityanath Yogi said, the most important aspect of containing a pandemic lies in prompt action from the government.

Following the pragmatic approach and foresight of the Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi, the UP Government had immediately geared into a proactive state. Sri Yogi had stopped all festivities starting with Holi in a bid to contain the situation since 2 people were suspected of Covid in the state. Subsequently all schools and colleges had been shut down within days, followed by Malls and Cinema halls. Even an international cricket match to be held in UP was directed to continue without any spectators, though eventually the BCCI cancelled the event in view of the pandemic. From March 22 Janta Curfew was declared in the country  at the PM's behest.

The challenge to UP lies in its location that soon became a transit for migrant workers of  other states, leave alone the huge influx of migrants from the state itself. The government immediately employed 16000 buses to ferry the migrants home in UP from various states. Arrangements were made for quarantine and tests before the migrants were allowed to go home.

Preparation for lockdown was already underway. The ministers had immediately been grouped under various task forces to handle every aspect that needed active engagement. Various committees based on vocational and rural requirements were tasked to take adequate steps to avert any crisis. Daily meeting with any of those 7 or more committes would take place with the CM. The committee looking after health were quick to identify Covid hospitals, categorizing them into 3 levels,  and to acquire required test kits. Today 78000 patients can be accommodated in beds in UP. Similarly committee for law and order ensured strict implementation without the police getting infected, the committee for rural and agricultural enablement ensured MSME could take advantage of the labour influx to boost medical and other productivity. Rural necessities like cold storage, facemask stitching, sanitizer, agricultural and vocational need based productivity were up to speed. Today 26 manufacturing units of PPE kits are running in UP and many states have procured sanitizer from the state.

Soon the Tabliqi Jammat fall out lead to an unprecedented situation threatening to throw pandemic into stage 3 or community spread. Every effort was made to find and contain such 5000 attendees within 48 hours. Migrants and students from various states returned to UP by the trains or buses arranged by the  UP government. These migrant workers had a high risk of carrying Covid 19 depending on their state of origin, for example, 50% for Mumbai and 70% for Delhi. About 15 lakh migrant workers can be quarantined in UP. The migrants were screened before being allowed to proceed home with 15 days of ration for home quarantine on government transport. 

The administration of Covid has been scalable starting from the gram panchayat level and ward level that monitors for any suspect symptoms. All 75 districts in UP has ventilators and full testing facilities, with 75000 medical workers actively screening the population. The government is ready to bring back all its migrant workers and provide them with adequate employment in the state.

Due to the Chinese spread of the virus many companies are seeking an alternative site and UP has already managed to woo a German shoe manufacturer and hopes to generate many more earning opportunities in the state. The infrastructure and roadways coupled with the government policies and strong security situation has been aiding influx of investors in the state. The stability is further enhanced by the findings that the migrant workers have higher immunity levels and are recovering within 7 days when provided with adequate care. The returning migrants have brought in various skills from plumbing to computer operators into the state enriching the human resource reserves in the state. The UP government is planning a commission to  enable employment for the migrants are a skill mapping of their work force. Other states can avail this work force that will be equipped with social security and insurance policies but will be under the observation of the state to avoid exploitation. This is in line with the PM's view of swabhilambhan and arthic samriddhi or self reliance and economic development. 

Speaking on fake news Sri Yogi mentioned that law shall take its course on all miscreants and also refuted the claims of opposition that his government is more into temples than economy. The facilities provided by the state is so adequate that there is little outward migration from the state. The state does not believe in appeasement politics and the faith of the people lies with the government.

Women empowerment through Gramin Sebika Sangathan and Kishan Utpadan Sangathan has boosted the employment and earning capacity of the rural folks. With the homecoming of skilled workers employment opportunities would increase with government support. For example, instead of importing incense the same can be manufactured from flowers offered in temples, this will also boost the make in India programme. The pandemic is also an opportunity to realign the economy. There is no conflict between faith and economy, both Ram and Roti are essential. The state stands firmly with its people in times of crisis providing the 18 crore people with free ration for 5 times till date, 32 lakh people with subsidy for daily needs, and 86 lakh people with pension schemes. The state looks forward to self employment through MSME sectors and all steps in that direction is already underway.