Mehbooba Mufti warns against repealing Article 35A

SRINAGAR: Politics continued to rage on over Article 35A of the Constitution with PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti warning the Centre on Monday that the situation in the valley would be “more dangerous than what we have been witnessing since 1947” if the statute is scrapped.

Mufti’s warning comes even as Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik’s administration has directed its lawyers to plead for further adjournment of the hearing on Article 35A which is likely to come up in the Supreme Court this week. A Delhi-based NGO has moved the apex court seeking a repeal of Article 35A saying it is ‘unconstitutional’ in character. J&K government spokesman Rohit Kansal told reporters that in the past the state government has pleaded for deferment of the hearing in view of the sensitive nature of the issue. He added that there is no change in the government’s position.

While the Centre had also sought adjournments in the past, there are indications that it may change its stand post-Pulwama by seeking an expeditious hearing. The government is even believed to be considering the option of promulgating an ordinance to scrap the statute which is key to the endurance of the “special status” provided to J&K through Article 370.

Mufti continued pressurizing the Centre on this issue saying the latter “shouldn’t play with fire and push people of Kashmir towards war”.

“If Article 35A is gone, I reiterate that there wouldn’t be anyone in the state to hold the tricolour,” she said, adding that it was unfortunate that J&K was made part of election strategy every time there were polls in the country. She said ahead of the 2014 elections, Afzal Guru was hanged and added, “At present, there are attempts being made to destabilize the situation in the state and create a war hysteria to secure votes.”

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also reiterated his party’s resolve to continue fighting for protecting Article 35A. Without naming PDP, he told NC workers: “Our fight for the protection of the state’s special status is even being acknowledged and supported by those who were in alliance with BJP.” He added that Centre should consider conducting assembly polls in the state so that the new assembly could deliberate upon such issues.