National Conference (NC) district president, Ramban, Sajjad Shaheen today said that any attempt to tamper with Article 35-A or Article 370 “will be seen as an assault on identity and autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir”.
While addressing a daylong meeting of prominent party functionaries of Banihal constituency at party’s central office in Banihal, Shaheen cautioned the BJP Government against tampering with state’s special status.
He said that NC will not allow anyone to dilute state’s special status. He said that NC will hold a massive protest on August 25 against attempts to tamper with Article 35-A.
He said tinkering with Article 35-A “could take away the right of state subject certificate, which otherwise, is protecting the distinct identity of the state”.
He said, “State’s special status is non-negotiable”.
He said that it forms the only constitutional and legal bridge of accession between Jammu & Kashmir with the country.
He lashed out at the PDP for facilitating the long cherished desire of its former alliance partner BJP to realize the dream of its founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee to subvert the constitution of the state.
“National Conference has rendered innumerable sacrifices to safeguard J&K’s special status and the party has been a custodian of the aspirations and Identity of the people of the state and it will continue to stand and oppose all attempts aimed at diluting our special status,” he said
District vice presidents, Mohd Afzal Wani and Saif Ud Din Dar, block presidents, Abdul Ahad Shan, Riyaz Ahmed Mir and Abdul Khalil Sohil, youth leaders, Tariq Dar, Mukhtiyar Ahmed and others also addressed the meeting.