Post Mehbooba Mufti – Farooq Abdullah meet, BJP slams Article 35A supporters

As the two arch-rivals Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference came together to oppose any move to abrogate Article 35A, the BJP today dubbed all supporters of this provision as “anti-nationals”.
“Article 35A is an unconstitutional provision which preaches secession and those who are supporting it are intentionally or unintentionally encouraging anti-national elements in the Kashmir valley,” said veteran BJP leader and lawmaker Ashok Khajuria.
A day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met NC president Farooq Abdullah to send out a message of unity among Kashmiri leaders to protect the “special status of the state” at any cost, the BJP reasserted the party’s commitment to get this provision abolished.
“This anti-national article must go for the unity and integration of the country,” Khajuria said, adding that “the total integration of J&K with the rest of the country is the core of the party’s agenda so there is no question of compromising on the issue”.
State BJP president Sat Sharma also reacted strongly to the “irresponsible” and “threatening” statements being given by leaders of the PDP and NC on Article 35A. “Leaders should not issue threatening statements on a matter which is sub judice,” Sharma said with an obvious reference to Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah.
On Tuesday, Mehbooba had called on Farooq at his residence in Srinagar and discussed the current political situation in the state. An NC spokesman had said that a significant part of the meeting was taken up discussing ways to protect Article 35A.
Sources said the BJP leadership had not taken the Mehbooba-Farooq meeting lightly and the party had asked its veteran leaders to “expose” those who were issuing threats over Article 35A. A message has already been given to the ministers to clear party’s position on appropriate platforms to counter the stance taken by Kashmir-centric parties, said a source.
Meanwhile, commenting on the reported threats of revolt in Kashmir, veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta said that instead of putting up views before the court, an attempt was being made to arouse unhealthy sentiments.
“Farooq Abdullah should know that his father too had opted for the path of “revolt” but after remaining in wilderness for 22 years, he accepted the post of Chief Minister and served the people like a nationalist,” Gupta said.

‘Delhi wants to tamper with J&K’s Muslim character’
Srinagar: Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday accused New Delhi of being “hell bent on tampering with the Muslim majority character of J&K”. Geelani said the state’s people would not allow anyone to alter or interfere with the integrity and special status of the state and will safeguard it at all cost.