Padma Mohanty
Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) President gave a reply to BJP President Amit Shah over his comment on the removal of Article 35A from the constitution by 2020. On Wednesday, after filing her nominations from the Anantnag Lok Sabha Seat she told to the reporters that by 2020 Jammu and Kashmir won’t be a part of India if article 35A is removed.
Amit Shah had earlier given a statement that to solve the Kashmir issue Article 370 and 35A needs to be removed from the constitution. He also said that they tried to solve the problem in a peaceful way but when that method did not work they started taking controlled measures against extremist and separatist groups. And regarding extinguishing Article 370 and 35A, it was there in their list of doings from the beginning and will always be there till it is removed.
Even Arun Jaitely also said that article 35A is a ‘constitutional vulnerable’ and it is hampering the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. These were the reasons why Mehbooba Mufti said that the deadline for Jammu and Kashmir to be a part of India is 2020.
What is Article 370 and 35A?
Article 370:- According to article 370 Jammu and Kashmir has special status, they have a separate set of laws for its governance. Article 370 was made on the President’s order to motivate the Muslim majority to join India, at that time Maharaja Hari Singh was ruling Jammu and Kashmir, he was Hindu but most of the population in his region were Muslims and they all wanted to join Pakistan but he wanted to be a part of India, for this reason the article was made. Because of Article 370 the Parliament also has less power to make laws for the state.
Article 35A:- According to this article only permanent residents are allowed to settle permanently in the state, can have property, can take up government jobs, scholarships. No one else from outside is allowed to avail these things.
“The 2020 will also be the deadline of J&K for the entire country. If the conditions of the accession are removed, then the relationship of Jammu and Kashmir with the union of India will also end,” said Mehbooba Mufti on the statement given by Amit Shah. She even gave a threating statement, “If you break this bridge, then mainstream politicians like Mehbooba Mufti, who swear by the Constitution of India and the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, will also have to reconsider our future course of action because we have upheld the Indian flag and if you touch (Article) 370, then this flag will not remain in our hands or on our shoulders.”
Senior Congress leader, Karan Singh in an interview said that Jammu and Kashmir had never asked for special powers, it was given to it by the government of India. On this Mehbooba Mufti said, “Karan Singh’s statement is ridiculous. His father Maharaja Hari Singh had laid the foundation for the Article 370. And today Karan Singh is singing a different tune. It is wrong and does not befit his personality.”
BJP is telling to remove the Article 35A because open economy is not possible, as no outsiders are allowed to open business. It is also discriminating between people and violating the human rights.
