Srinagar
The decision of Supreme Court holding Article 370 as a permanent feature of Indian Constitution sets at rest the controversy that it will be fiddled with or abrogated by any act of union government.
PDP senior leader and former MLA Nizamuddin Bhat said that the ruling from country’s highest constitutional forum comes as a greater relief as, in our opinion, it commands the national opinion to bind the establishment and political dispensations not to fiddle with it in any circumstances.
“The decision does more to sense the national consensus on respecting the constitution as it values the significance of the Special Status granted to Jammu and Kashmir,” Bhat added.
Bhat said, the decision also binds parliament to maintain the sanctity of the constitution, though by implication and one can safely presume that law and state is firmly behind the constitutional position enshrined in the art. 370.
He said while the debate on status quo vis-a-vis the constitutional framework should end in the wake of Supreme Court’s adjudication, the debate on the political issue regarding the state as well as restoring art. 370 to its original form will remain.
Bhat maintained that PDP has always believed that constitutional guarantees help trust-building, these are not the final answer to commitments made to people of the state at the time of joining the union of India.
He said the case for resolution of the Kashmir problem remains despite the decision, which would deserve a larger political approach. He said peace and resolution have been a slogan ever since partition and division of the state. “Several experiments have failed in this direction as India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir did not arrive at a consensus on establishing relationships that could sustain.”
Bhat said PDP as a responsible ideological party did facilitate both India and Pakistan in its humble way to come together for a shared role in having sustainable peace in the region and continues with its efforts. The party reiterates its resolve to help the stakeholders in putting end to the confrontation.
“At this stage when PDP as a ruling partner in the state faces testing times, it will not run away from its responsibility to do the best in taking Jammu and Kashmir out of prolonged suffering arising out of uncertainty and confrontation.”
Bhat said while PDP will not claim any credit for ensuring from a party like BjP in the document for agenda of alliance that art. 370 will not be abrogated or undermined, the decision from country’s apex court comes as a short in the arm.
