Geelani joins chorus

‘Existence of Article 370 proves JK is a disputed territory’

Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Thursday said the very existence of Article 370 in the Indian constitution is the proof that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed region. He warned that any attempt to scrap this documentary proof of Kashmir’s disputed nature will be resisted tooth and nail. 
“If it ever happens, our freedom struggle will enter into a new phase and the whole nation will decisively rise against New Delhi’s control over the state,” Geelani said in a statement.
Commenting on the controversial statement of DrJitendra Singh over Article 370, Geelani said: “Even if Article 370 exists only on paper, the very presence of this Article in the Indian constitution is a proof that JK is a disputed territory. New Delhi wants to scrap this article to facilitate large-scale demographic changes in J&K. For implementing its dangerous plan of grabbing our land on Israeli-pattern, New Delhi wants to eliminate this last hurdle in their way.”
Terming discussion on Article 370 as meaningless and wastage of time, Geelani said: “If the government of India wants any discussion, they should discuss the pros and cons of lingering Kashmir dispute.” 
“The provision of Article 370 in Indian constitution has its own history. It was introduced in the Indian constitution to differentiate the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the other states till its final settlement.”  
Geelani alleged that the government of India backtracked from her promise and is still holding Kashmir by virtue of its military might. 
Terming the statements of PDP and National Conference on article 370 as irrelevant, Geelani said these parties are doing this to cash this situation for the assembly elections, “otherwise they have always helped New Delhi in erosion of this article.”