The Opposition National Conference today accused ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of colluding with BJP to “weaken” Article 370 and 35A.
“In this unholy pursuit, the PDP had volunteered to be a facilitator in order to weaken Article 370 and 35A,” Provincial President, National Conference, Devender Singh Rana said while addressing workers in Nagrota Assembly constituency.He said the NC will not allow it to happen as it will mean trampling of the constitutional guarantee held out to the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Rana said any attempt to weaken Article 35A will be detrimental, not only to particular region or community, but the people of all faiths, regions and sub-regions of J&K.
Article 35A of Constitution allows the state of Jammu and Kashmir to grant special privileges and rights to permanent residents.
In an apparent reference to Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh’s recent rhetoric on the special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Rana accused BJP of manipulating and exploiting Article 370 as per its political exigencies and in a vein bid to cover up its credibility deficit.
“BJP justified putting Article 370 in the backburner while entering into alliance with equally opportunistic PDP and when the people of Jammu turned tables on it for breaking promises, it attempted to rake it up again in the mistaken belief of befooling people,” Rana said.
The Provincial President decried myopic saffron politics, saying it lacked even basic knowledge about the Indian Constitution which has guaranteed special provisions to various states of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, as per urges and aspirations of the people.
