‘National commitments made with JK will be respected’
Srinagar: Welcoming the idea of the opposition political parties for convening a special session of the Legislature on discussing Article 35A issue, the government Monday said that the commitments made with the state by the Centre from time to time will be “respected and maintained”.
“All the ideas are welcome,” Naeem Akhtar, Government spokesman and Minister for Public Works, told the news agency KNS.
He said that the Article 35A is an existential issue for Jammu and Kashmir state and all the political parties are on board and in its favour.
“This (Article 35A) is a joint issue and an existential issue for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. And, fortunately, all the parties are on board. So there is no difference of opinion on how to approach it. The Chief Minister has consulted with the opposition and will continue to do so,” Akhtar said.
Opposition parties including National Conference, Congress, Independent legislators, M Y Tarigami and Hakim Yaseen have sought convening of special session of the state legislature to discuss the “crucial issue” of Article 35A.
“We will fight it politically and legally. We have a strong case and I have a reason to feel that the institutions of the country which have made national commitments to the state will respect them,” the minister told KNS.
In a joint statement on Sunday, CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami and PDF chairman and MLA Khan Sahib Hakim Muhammad Yaseen said, “The conspiracy to scrap Article 35A is essentially the agenda of communal, divisive and anti-democratic forces who want to thrive on uncertainty, hatred and turmoil. The state government should take the case very seriously, contend it in the Supreme Court vigorously and should not depend on hollow assurances given by the Centre.”
PCC president G A Mir said Legislature is the best forum to debate the issue of Article 35A.
(With inputs from KNS)
