BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s statement about dilution of Article 370 has sparked a fresh debate in Jammu and Kashmir with mainstream parties saying that the law was permanent. Addressing a gathering of over 50,000 people at Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu, Modi had on Sunday called for a debate on whether Article 370 has been beneficial for the State. “No. It has not done anything for the people of the State and is being communalised. However, I want the law-knowing people to discuss it,” he said.
Reacting to Modi’s remarks, former Union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said even Parliament was not Constitutionally mandated to review the Act which grants special status to the State. “Parliament is not constitutionally mandated to review or scrap Article 370. Even ordinary students of Constitutional history know that Article 370 providing special status to J&K has gained a permanent status after the Constitutional Assembly approved it,” Sayeed said.
He also warned that the State would rise against any attempt at diluting the special position. “Modi’s utterances have the potential of creating fissures within the State besides increasing the trust deficit between the State and the rest of the country,” he added.
Under Article 370, no person from any other State can buy land or property in J&K. Special status also means the State has its own penal code. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah challenged Modi to a study of the Article. “I challenge him or any of his minions to reproduce verbatim the section of Article 370 that determines J&K state subject law,” he tweeted.
Omar’s uncle and firebrand National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal said the Article was a connecting link for relations between the government of India and J&K, the removal of which would adversely affect Centre-State relations.
J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief and MP Saif-ud-din Soz said the BJP PM candidate was a confused person who “does not know the Constitution of India. This law needs no further debate.”
Can’t ignore Kashmiri pandits
A day after he faced criticism for ignoring the cause of Kashmiri Pandits who migrated from the Valley due to rising terrorism, BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi said no one can ignore their sufferings. “No one can ignore sufferings of the Kashmiri Pandits.