Srinagar
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while criticizing the Article 35A of the Constitution which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir government to define “permanent residents” of the state is likely to make efforts to bring changes in the Article, India TV reported.
BJP reports has criticised the provision, asserting that it encourages alienation, deepens the concept of a separate identity and creates a political gap between the state and the rest of India.
Reacting to last month’s speech of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti where she had warned against tinkering with 35 (A) saying that there would not be anybody to hoist the Tricolour in Kashmir in that eventuality, BJP while strongly refuting it says “that the Article has done more harm to the State than any other provision of the law.”
State BJP’s chief spokesman, Sunil Sethi, said statement of Mehbooba on Article 35-A doesn’t depict true picture and is politically incorrect.
He said Article 35-A is introduced in Constitution of India through process of Article 370 and has lead to “only disparity and inequalities in the state”.
Union minister Jitendra Singh however said that since the matter was sub judice, one should wait for the court’s verdict. He said the court verdict would be binding on all.
State BJP leaders are vocal about their views as they strongly feel that Article 35A should be repealed.
“Article 35A is a constitutional mistake. It was incorporated through a presidential order and not through the parliamentary process, “claimed Surinder Amabardar, BJP MLC from the state.
