SRINAGAR: After National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said a separate Constitution for Jammu and Kashmir was probably an "aberration", separatist leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said India has only two options to resolve the Kashmir issue and asserted that demand for "right to self-determination" for J&K people is "non-negotiable".
"The UN resolutions on Kashmir are not outdated. The UN resolutions have no expiry date. These resolutions are still valid today and need to be implemented for return of lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir and South Asia," Mirwaiz said while addressing Friday congregational prayers at historic Jamia Masjid.
"Either India should implement UN resolutions or hold tripartite talks involving India, Pakistan and Kashmiri leadership".
He said J&K is a "disputed territory" and people would thwart every attempt to change this.
"We will defend the state subject law and won't allow its scrapping. The scrapping of the law is an attempt to change the disputed nature of J&K," he said.
Mirwaiz said people would fight the BJP and RSS’ agenda to "integrate" J&K with India.
"India through its military might is trying to control Kashmir. They are terrorising the population," he said adding Kashmir is a political and humanitarian issue and should be resolved as per wishes and aspirations of people of the State.
He claimed not a single institution of India including the judiciary, parliament or military can change the disputed nature of J&K.
Referring to Doval's statement he said, "It shows arrogance and a complete disregard for historical facts and ground realities about J&K, its disputed status and the will of its people held by forcible control through military power."
Meanwhile, the BJP's J&K unit on Friday summoned its leader Rajesh Gupta to clear his stand on Article 35-A and alleged derogatory remarks he made against the party state president Ravinder Raina.
Gupta had on August 4 differed with the party's stand on desirability of the Article 35-A of the Constitution, saying "there are fears in Jammu that if the article is repealed, the region will suffer the most due to the influx of outsiders.”
“Many people feel if the outsiders are allowed to settle in Jammu, it will have an adverse impact on the region's economy and employment opportunities," he said.
J&K interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma calls on Guv
Srinagar: Centre's special representative for dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir Dineshwar Sharma on Friday called on Governor Satya Pal Malik here and briefed him about his discussions across the cross-section of the society in the state. Sharma met the governor at the Raj Bhavan, a spokesman from the governor’s office said. He said the two also discussed the internal security situation in the state.