PDP, NC put up united front before Rajnath Singh over Article 35A

• BJP sticks to abrogation demand
• Omar flags concern over GoI’s ambiguity in defending JK’s Special Status in SC
• Need to maintain status quo on special position of State as per AoA: PDP

The ruling PDP and opposition National Conference Sunday put a united front before Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought protection and safeguarding of Article 35-A, which grants special privileges to residents to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Kashmir-based legislators and parties also sought protection of special status of the state but PDP’s ruling alliance partner BJP pitched for abrogation of the Article 35-A, saying it has proved detrimental for the State.
The delegation of NC leaders led by former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Singh at Srinagar this evening.
The other members of NC delegation were Ali Muhammad Sagar, Nasir Aslam Wani, Chaudhary Muhammad Ramzan, Mian Altaf, Mubarak Gul, Muhammad Akbar Lone, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Sakina Ittoo, Shameema Firdous, Tanvir Sadiq, Phuntsog Wangdan Shunu and Aga Abbas.
While highlighting the political, historical and constitutional context of the State’s special status, Omar registered the party’s concern and disappointment over Government of India (GoI’s) ambiguity in defending the State’s Special Status in the Supreme Court with respect to Article 35-A and also highlighted the worsened and constantly deteriorating situation in the Valley.
NC provincial president (Kashmir), Nasir Aslam Wani, who was part of the delegation, told Kashmir Post that NC told HM that if Article 35-A was abrogated, then the politics of mainstream will become much tougher and people of the state would rise strongly against it.
“We told him that Article 35-A was a constitutional guarantee and any fiddling with it will have serious repercussions across the board in the State,” he said.
According to Nasir, NC leaders also raised the issue of deteriorating law and order situation in the state and told home minister that under the coalition government, the state has been pushed to the worst of times since 1990’s.
The NC delegation also sought sustained and open-ended political engagement with stakeholders in Kashmir irrespective of their ideology and urged New Delhi and Islamabad to make sincere and sustained efforts towards resumption of a comprehensive dialogue on all outstanding issues including that of Kashmir.
The NC leaders reiterated party’s struggle for restoration of autonomy and urged GoI to initiate a process for reversing erosions made to State’s autonomy.
A PDP delegation led by party vice president Sartaj Madni also met the home minister and apprised him about the prevailing political situation in the State.
“We discussed implementation of Agenda of Alliance (AoA). We made it clear to HM that the status quo on special position of State should be maintained as has been mentioned in AoA,” Madani told Kashmir Post.
He said the recent statements of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti have made it clear that Article 35-A shouldn’t be fiddled with because aspirations of people of the state are paramount for the party.
On differences between PDP and BJP on Article 35-A, Madani said the BJP should answer the question because they are trying to go against the AoA if they are advocating for its abrogation.
On Rohingya Muslims, PDP Vice President said that the party’s stand is based on humanitarian grounds as is evident by the recent speeches of Mehbooba.
A delegation of state BJP leaders led by state president Sat Paul Sharma also met home minister and presented him a memorandum seeking deportation of Rohingya Muslims living in Jammu city and abrogation of Article 35-A.
State BJP chief spokesman, Sunil Sethi, told Kashmir Post that BJP delegation urged the home minister to initiate steps for abrogation of Article 35-A as it has proved detrimental for the state.
“We told him that Article 35-A has been an impediment for the progress of the state. It has acted as a barrier to the integration of the state with union of India,” he said.
Sethi said the BJP delegation also asked HM to investigate the source of funding and resource persons, who are bringing the Rohingya Muslims to Jammu city.
A delegation of CPI (M) led by MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami also met Singh and expressed serious concern over prevailing situation in the Valley and GoI’s ambiguity vis-a-vis Article 35-A.
The delegation urged GoI not to fiddle with the special status of the state and told home minister that Article 35A has constitutional position and was a bridge between Kashmir and New Delhi. “Any fiddling with it will have adverse impact on the relations between State and the GoI”.
The CPI (M) delegation also reminded HM that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 15 speech that Kashmir needs hugs and neither abuse or bullets, people have expectations that GoI would will take credible political initiative on Kashmir.
The delegation also urged GoI to reach out to cross section of people unconditionally and pressed for ban on use of pellet guns and end to arrests.
A delegation of Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) led by its president Jagmohan Singh also called on Singh and urged him to take concrete steps and translate announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 vis-a-vis Kashmir into a reality.
The APSCC delegation told HM that since PM Minister has said that Kashmir’s problem can be solved by embracing the people, it is important that tangible measures are taken so that the announcement becomes a reality.
“The GoI should resolve the issue pertaining to Article 35-A politically rather than legally as the issue is related with sentiments of people of the State and needs to be tackled carefully,” the delegation members said.
They also flagged off issues confronting the Sikh community.
The delegations of People’s Conference led by party President and Minister Sajjad Gani Lone, Peoples Democratic Forum (PDF) led by MLA Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, Democratic Party (Nationalist) led by Ghulam Hassan Mir, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) led by Er Rashid and Kashmir Society delegation led by Farooq Renzu Shah also called on home minister and discussed the prevailing situation with him.
They demanded safeguarding of special status of the State.
The delegation of National Panthers’ Party, All J&K Panchayat Association, and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad also met Singh.
Union Home Secretary, Rajiv Gauba was also present during these meetings.