The Union Ministry of Home Affairs Sunday said there was no proposal to extend Article 371 to Jammu and Kashmir.
A spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir Government said this eveningthat there was no proposal under consideration regarding extension of Article371 to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The spokesman said that media reports circulating in thisregard were “baseless and without any substance.”
“The same has also been refuted by Ministry of Home Affairsas well,” the spokesman added.
Earlier in the day, the MHA wrote on its official Twitterhandle: “Certain media reports stating that Ministry of Home Affairs has moveda proposal to implement Article 371 in Jammu and Kashmir are incorrect andbaseless.”
Last week, a few mediagroups came out with reports that MHA was mulling introduction of Article 371in J&K and is in talks with Jammu and Kashmir’s law department regardingits implementation. Media reports further claimed that the government mayimplement it in Ladakh as well and said that proposal is still at theconsultation level.
Article 371 of Constitutionsafeguards the rights of local people in employment and education and wascreated after agitation in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Article 371 wasincorporated in the 32nd Amendment of the Constitution in 1974.
The Article is applicable in 10 States including Gujarat,Nagaland, Assam, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Arunachal Pradesh,Karnataka.
On August 5 this year, the Central Government revoked Article370 that gave special status to the erstwhile State of J&K.
Parliament also passed abill bifurcating the State into two union territories – J&K and Ladakh –which officially came into existence from October 31.
On Saturday, Minister of State in the PMO, Dr Jitendra Singhhad also brushed aside reports that Article 371 was going to be implemented inJammu and Kashmir.
“There is nothing of thatsort being contemplated at any level in the Government of India and thisdisinformation is being planted by those whose illegitimate interests have beenadversely affected by the abrogation of Article 370,” Dr Singh said.