National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah Tuesday said any attempt to tinker with Art 35A will have serious ramifications and would inevitably reopen the debate on J&K’s accession with the Union of India.
Addressing a party meeting, Abdullah “reminded the powers that be” that J&K acceded with the Union of India on certain conditions unlike the other princely states in 1947.
“If legality of the Article 35A comes under scanner, then the relationship between the state and country will also come under scrutiny,” an NC spokesman said in a statement.
He referred to various guarantees that the state enjoyed within Constitution of India. While recalling the unique status of J&K, he said, “All our Constitutional authorities assume office after taking oath under our own state’s Constitution. Our State is the only state in the country where this is possible.”
He said voices coming out to support and protect Art 35 A are region, religion neutral and any attempts to give it a communal color have been defeated.
“BJP MLA from RS Pura recently spoke passionately in favour of Art 35A and even lauded Kashmiris for their continuous support to 35 A. It should serve as an eye opener for those who are speaking against it. Even people in Ladakh are openly coming out in favor of Art 35 A,” the statement reads.
“It was our party which raised the issue of Art 35A in the legislative Assembly in 2015. The then PDP BJP government had no idea about the threats to state’s special status and was not alarmed for reasons known to them. Upon our persistence, the government finally took the legal course on Art 35A.”
He said NC would fight for Art 35A both legally as well as on the streets.