Time to unite for defending Art 35-A in SC: Muzaffar Shah

Srinagar, July 23: Jammu Kashmir Awami National Conference (JKANC) senior vice president Muzaffar Shah
has suggested the leaders of all political parties and conscious people of the State to chart out a strategy to
defend the petition against Article 35-A in Supreme Court, the hearing of which is going to take place on
August 6, 2018.
Muzaffar Shah according to the statement said it seems that the political leaders, civil society and those
associated with mainstream are exhibiting careless approach regarding the issue.

He said the Article 35-A is an issue concerned with the future of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the
need of the hour is to vehemently defend it.
Shah appealed Governor N N Vohra to fulfill the responsibility of defending the special position under Article
370 and Article 35-A guaranteed by the Constitution of India to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, as the
Governor is the guardian of the constitution whether the State is under Governor rule or not.
“We hope that the Governor will put in place the legal mechanism for defending the Article 35-A in Supreme
Court,” he said.
Shah termed the statement of former chief minister of J&K Mehbooba Mufti as far from reality wherein she
has said that 1984 like situation is visible on ground in the State. He said comparing the 1984 situation with
2018 is ridiculous as in 1984, the National Conference split into two parts and a new government came into
power with the help of Congress.
“Then after just two years, when Congress put conditions, the then chief minister Khawaja Ghulam
Mohammad Shah preferred resignation over submitting before Congress. While as today, the government
formation is related to introduce the communalism of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) in J&K, which is
tantamount to creating a front against the secularists,” he said.
JKANC senior vice president said the biggest challenge right now in J&K is to put an end to political
uncertainty prevailing in the State and this cannot be done by encouraging those elements upon which the
people have no trust.
“New Delhi’s attempts to appoint any such political elements in charge in J&K will further deteriorate the
situation,” he said.
Shah cited the example of PDP-BJP and said their alliance broke out in just three years as there was no
understanding between the two parties.
“This alliance was formed only to grab power. Unfortunately, the politics has lost value. It is no more about
honesty and serving the people but to amassing wealth through whatever means. This is the reason why
political leaders and parties turn to that system which has power,” Muzaffar Shah said. (KNS)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)