BJP Ready For Debate Over Article 35A Issue, Extends “Open Invitation”

JAMMU: The BJP unit in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday challenged for a debate by saying that the party was open to a debate over the Article 35A of the Constitution, which grants special status to permanent residents of the state of J&K, as more protests went on against the August 6 Supreme Court hearing on petitions challenging the provision.

The Supreme Court is as of now continuously hearing a batch of petitions over the issue, including the one which was filed by an RSS-linked NGO ‘We the Citizens’, seeking scraping of the article.

“The BJP is open to a debate with anyone or any political party on whether or not Article 35A is in the interest of the people of the state. We are extending an open invitation,” the state BJP chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi told reporters.

He said that over the last few days, the political climate in the state of Jammu and Kashmir has climbed up over the issue of Article 35A and some political parties, especially including those active in Kashmir, have taken an “anti-national and anti-people” stand on the issue.

While countering the National Conference (NC) and the National Congress party, Mr Sethi expressed that the people in the valley are being totally misled over Article 35A by being told that it is for their betterment and in the interest of the state.

“The continuation of Article 35A will not have any benefit for the state. The central government has pumped crores of rupees into the state over the last 70 years but the development has not been as it should have been,” he said.

He further said that the Article 35A has acted as an big obstacle in the state’s development because it did not allow outside investment to be done in the state.

“Investors do not come here to set up Infrastructure. The youth are not getting the jobs,” he added.

The BJP spokesperson also that there were some politicians who want to maintain the position for vote bank politics.

Replying to a statement by the NC’s provincial president Devender Singh Rana that the special provision was introduced by Maharaja Hari Singh at his time of reign to safeguard the interests of the state, Sethi said the situation was different from what it was now when the law was enacted.

“It was a princely state and not a part of India at that time. After accession, Jammu and Kashmir became part of India,” he said.

“When we are a part of India then what is the need for separate provisions and that too when it has created hurdles in the development and is also discriminatory in nature,” he added.

Accusing Rana of trying to play politics over the name of Maharaja Hari Singh, Mr Sethi said it was the NC and the Congress party who were involved in conspiring to send the king out of the state and did not allow him to return till death.

Due to the Article 35A, West Paksitan refugees, who came to the state in the year of 1947, have been denied the right of being state subjects here, which was promised to them, and local girls who marry outside the state lose their right over property, he said.

“Jammu and Kashmir is not for foreigners but West Pakistan refugees are Indians and can live anywhere in the country, but not Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals,” he said.

“My appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir is to understand the real purpose of Article 35A. It is like an iron chain which is keeping us from moving forward. If the state subject laws change, it will benefit the state,” Mr Sethi said.

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