National security and corruption have emerged as some of the main issues in the Lok Sabha elections but regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir have kept protection of the state’s special status under the Constitution of India as their key poll plank.
The National Conference, its arch rival Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) and new entrant People’s Conference led by Sajad Gani Lone havebeen talking about protection of Articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution intheir rallies in the run-up to the polling which is scheduled to begin on April11, latching on to BJP chief Amit Shah’s remarks that Article 35A will berepealed by 2020.
“Protecting the special status of Jammu and Kashmir asguaranteed in the Constitution of the country, is one of the main cornerstonesof our campaign for these elections,” National Conference vice presidentOmar Abdullah told PTI.
“It is not a numerical argument, it is an argumentbased on facts. Yes we only have six seats but Jammu and Kashmir bats far aboveits rankings otherwise. The smallest thing in Jammu and Kashmir becomesinternational news, very big things in other states are often ignored. So, Ithink six members in Parliament can do more than 60 from another state,”he said.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is using the special status ofthe state and the buzz surrounding it to stage a comeback after her party’scoalition government with the BJP fell last year.
She has adopted a more hardline posture than any of theregional parties on the issues related to Article 35A and Article 370.
“The relationship between our state and the country isbased on our special constitutional position that legitimises it. If we remove,what legalises this relationship, it will turn into an occupation andcolonisation,” she said.
Mehbooba, while reacting to Shah’s remarks on Article 35A,said the relation of Jammu and Kashmir with India will end if the terms andconditions of state’s accession to the Union were changed.
“2020 will also be a deadline from Jammu and Kashmir tothe nation. If you remove those terms and conditions on which Jammu and Kashmiracceded to India, our relation with the country will also finish,” theformer chief minister, who is contesting from Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, said.
Lone, who was a minister in the PDP-led coalition governmentin the state from the BJP quota, has also vowed to defend the state’s specialstatus.
“Article 35A is a matter of faith and dignity for thepeople of the J&K through which the Constitution of India guarantees tosafeguard the special identity and unique status of Jammu & Kashmir. Inmatters of pride and identity, profit and loss is immaterial. Can a countryallow a foreign country to undermine its sovereignty and national pride justfor the sake of some monetary gains,” Lone asked.
He said Jammu and Kashmir was not the only state withspecial residency laws.
“All northeastern states and even Himachal Pradesh havelaws prohibiting non-locals from purchasing land. Why are politicians in NewDelhi only against J&K’s special status? What are their views on Art 371-Ato 371-K which guarantee provisions like 370 as applicable to the northeasternstates,” he said.
Although Congress leaders in their campaign have focussedmore on issues dominating the discourse at national level, the local leadershave made it a point to raise the issue of protecting the special status inelectioneering in the valley.
“No power in the world can revoke Article 370 and Article 35-A,” state Congress chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who is contesting from the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat, claimed.