Firdous Hassan
Srinagar, Aug 31: The deferment of Article 35-A hearing by the Supreme Court of India for the third time this month on Friday made the mainstream parties critical of BJP’s intentions and hopeful of a favourable verdict.
The apex court deferred the hearing till the second week of January after the state government pleaded for it in view of the possible Panchayat polls.
Congress state president G A Mir blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for using Article 35-A issue to save their face for 2019 elections.
“The deferment of this case was obvious. They can’t get majority in the parliament over this issue that is why they are taking indirect route by filing petitions,” he said.
Mir said the rightwing party used the “ploy of abrogation of Article 370” in 2014 elections to woo the voters.
“The people of India are too smart and wise. They will reject their ideology and let me tell you that there won’t be any harm done to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir even on the next scheduled date of hearing,” he said.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that despite the momentary relief due to the deferment, the situation would continue to be fragile till the petitions were not dismissed by the apex court.
“It has given us an opportunity to reorganise ourselves so that we can fight and save the special status of Jammu and Kashmir,” the PDP Spokesperson, Rafi Ahmed Mir, said.
Opposition National Conference (NC) said that the central government should also come clear about the development related to the petitions.
The party Provincial President, Nasir Aslam Wani, said the final judgment would be in favour of Article 35 A.
“The article guarantees special rights to the people of all the three regions of the state. So, the Supreme Court will definitely uphold it to ensure peaceful conditions and protection of rights of the J&K citizens,” he said.
