NEW DELHI – Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples’ DemocraticParty (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has warned the Centre not to fiddle withArticle 35A else they will witness what they haven’t seen in J&K since 1947.
After pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Article 35A(relating to the special rights and privileges enjoyed by Jammu andKashmir) in Supreme Court was listed for hearing between Feb 26-28, formerJammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chiefMehbooba Mufti on Monday in a warning to the Centre said that don’t playwith fire and don’t fiddle with Article-35A, otherwise you will see whatyou haven’t seen since 1947.
In her message which seemed to be a stern warning for those trying tofiddle with Article 35A, Mehbooba Mufti said that if it’s attacked then shedon’t know which flag people of Jammu & Kashmir will be forced to pick upinstead of the tri-colour.
Hitting out at the Centre, former J&K Chief Minister and NationalConference chief Omar Abdullah said that the only responsibility of theCentre and the Governor in Kashmir is to hold to elections right now. Headded that the Centre should hold elections and let people take thedecision, the new government will itself work towards safeguarding Article35A.
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Though Article 35A has been listed for hearing in the Supreme Court in thecoming week between February 26-28, several reports suggest that it isunlikely that the issue will come up for hearing.
Not a first time when Article 35A dealing with the special rights grantedto Kashmiris has been invoked. In previous occasions, political parties andleaders have talked about scrapping the law.