35-A
Article 35-A like a marriage deed, repeal it and the relationship is over: Shah Faesal
Outspoken bureaucrat and IAS officer, Shah Faesal said that repealing Article 35A would end Jammu and Kashmir’s relationship with the India.
“I would compare Article 35A to a marriage-deed/nikahnama. You repeal it and the relationship is over. Nothing will remain to be discussed afterwards,” he said in a tweet.
I would compare Article 35A to a marriage-deed/nikahnama. You repeal it and the relationship is over. Nothing will remain to be discussed afterwards.
— Shah Faesal (@shahfaesal) August 5, 2018
He stated that before the Constitution had been established in the country, the accession of the state to India had taken place. “Yes and those who say Accession still stands forget that Accession was just like a Roka, because the Constitution had not come into force that time. Can Roka still bind two people together even after the marriage document is annulled?” he wrote.
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He said that the continuation of the special provisions would not pose any threat to the country’s sovereignty and integrity.
“Let’s not confuse the issue. Sovereignty and integrity of India can’t be challenged. Not at all. But the Constitution has kept some special provisions for J&K state. It’s a unique arrangement. It isn’t a threat to India’s integrity at all,” he said.
Earlier in April, Faesal was under fire for tweeting about the rising rape incidents in the country. The IAS officer had put out the tweet: Patriarchy+Population+Illiteracy+Alcohol+Porn+Technology+Anarchy = Rapistan!
Faesal drew a sharp reaction from some people who saw the reference to “Rapistan” as a reference to India and a contrast to Pakistan. After New Delhi ordered action against him for his remarks on social media, he had said that he could ‘lose his job’.
“Yes, I could lose my job. But then the world is full of possibilities,” Faesal told News18. “Losing my job is a small risk compared to the magnitude of the debate I’m trying to have.”
The 35-year-old bureaucrat is the only IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir to have ever topped the civil services exam. As a “role model”, the 2011 batch officer inspired many others to join the civil services. He is currently an Edward S Mason Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School on study leave.
