Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 29: Ex-DIG and treasurer of National Conference (NC), Israr Khan today said that his party has a clear stand about Article 370, 35A and the quantum of Autonomy that should have been granted to the state under the ambit of the constitution and the provisions of instrument of accession.
“Order declaring IT Section 66 A unconstitutional and upholding the fundamental rights of a citizen on freedom of speech and expression is a feeble attempt by SC to redeem itself. I now sincerely hope that it will revisit its previous three judgements including the one by a constitutional Bench and will scrap the revocation of Article 370 and 35 A,” Khan said in a statement.
“I am also sure that now my Jammuites will also rejoice it as they have realized their blunder. It’s not that Jammu and Kashmir was the only state with special status. There are Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghaliya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttrakhand where a wide range of provisions are available to these states that have been listed under Article 371, 371-A to 371-H,” he added.
Khan said that states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal and Andhra are also clamoring for this exclusivity and protection of educational, jobs and property rights reservations and safeguards but we fell in BJP’s trap and surrendered all our rights and reservations.
“Now Kashmiri Pandits have also realized it but are too embarrassed to admit it collectively. BJP , that was always on prowl, succeeded this time by exploiting our Kashmir hatred and paddling the narrative that 370 and 35A are an impediment for the development and prosperity and benefits only Kashmiris and that its abrogation and Re-organization of J&K is the only way forward,” the NC leader added.