By Kaveesha Fernando
NEW DELHI, India (CWBN)_The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has requested that the Indian National Congress (Congress party) clarify their stance on Jammu and Kashmir, in particular with regard to Article 370 of the Indian Constitution (Article 370).
The request comes just before the region’s District Development Council (DDC) polls, which are being held later this month. This will be the first time the DDC polls will be held.
Indian Cabinet Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad stated at a BJP press conference held in New Delhi that he requests Congress party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to clarify their stance with regard to Article 370.
“Sonia Gandhi Ji and Rahul Gandhi Ji, please tell the nation clearly and categorically that does the Congress party want restoration of Article 370 in the original form? Does Congress support the anti-national statements made by Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti?” the minister asked.
Farooq Abdullah is the Chairman of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration’s (PAGD), an amalgam of seven of the region’s political parties who have formed an alliance to fight to bring back Article 370. Mehbooba Mufti is the President of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Minister Shankar also questioned if the PAGD stance was in fact beneficial for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. “When the Gupkar Declaration alliance talks about restoration of Article 370 do they want to revoke various central laws implemented in Jammu and Kashmir for the benefit of poor, Dalits, women and for prohibition of corruption?” he asked.
“With abrogation of Article 370 various central laws such as Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, Act prohibiting manual scavenging etc. were implemented for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Article 370 allowed Jammu and Kashmir limited autonomy, which included a separate constitution, flag and the freedom to make laws independently. India imposed federal rule in the region in June last year when the government of the then chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, was reduced to a minority.
The change reversed all of the autonomy granted by Article 370. Constitutional experts debate the legality of the move; the article states that the State Government must approve any change in status before it can be publicly declared.
Jammu and Kashmir Election Commissioner KK Sharma announced that the election would be held starting November 28. The election is scheduled to be held in eight phases, and is due to be concluded in mid-December.
Edited by Elishya Perera
