Farzana Mumtaz
The political temperatures , overall situation is heating up in already tensed Valley of Kashmir over talk of striking down of article 35 A and also with Supreme court accepting the plea in this regard . Article 35A of the Indian Constitution is an article that empowers the Jammu and Kashmir state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents.
From polity to news studios it has given rise to war of words.
National Conference President, Farooq Abdullah, who chaired the all parties Opposition meeting on Article 35-A warned that the scrapping of the article will “create a revolt far greater than Amarnath Land row”.
“It was very important to discuss the issue of Article 35-A and its implications on the state, and all its three regions-Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, so that people understand as to why we are against its abrogation, which gives us the basic right and scrapping it will take away that basic right from us,” Abdullah told reporters at his Gupkar residence after chairing the all party meeting.
“Abrogation of Article 35 A will create a far greater revolt than Amarnath Land row, on which people rose overnight,” the former chief minister warned.
“It is a state subject law which should not be eroded at any cost,” he said.
“We have decided that we will take the issue to the people as a united front. All parties in Jammu, Kashmir or Ladakh will try to make people understand effect of abrogation of the Article on the state. Abrogating article will affect all the people. We will go t before the people and create awareness among them about its impact. People are the masters,” he said.
He said that it (state subject law was implemented) was done in the Maharaja (Hari Singh’s) time to prevent others coming in to dilute their culture.
In a related development blaming Article 370 of the Constitution for creation of a “separatist emotion”, the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP said recently that the time has come for the people of the state to say goodbye to it and also Article 35 A.
Both these articles, instead of being beneficial to the people of the state, have done a great damage and hamper progress and development, claimed J&K BJP spokesperson Prof Virender Gupta.
“The time has come when the people of Jammu and Kashmir should say goodbye to Article 370 and ask the Government of India to revoke Article 35 A,” he said.
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The voices within Kashmir are quite worried with overall repercussions that debate or any possible abrogation of Article 35 A would have on the overall scenario of Kashmir.
Ajaz War, Journalist and editor in chief Kashmir Media Watch states – “ The passions are already evoked due to debate on striking down of Article 35 A with the impression in Kashmir valley that remaining autonomy of Kashmir is being taken away .Saner heads should prevail otherwise the situation could turn into disaster which does not augur well for anyone.”
