Development main agenda: BJP

BJP leaders during a press conference at Jammu on Thursday.
BJP leaders during a press conference at Jammu on Thursday.

Art 370, 35 A to go

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 4: BJP has taken serious exception to the statements of various opposition leaders on the Article 370 and 35 A.
Talking to reporters here, today BJP spokespersons, Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo and Balbir Ram Rattan said that over a period of last two weeks, several leaders of different political parties have either issued formal statements or have spoken certain things during the election campaign which require formal response from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
It was said that J&K State has a relationship with the rest of India based upon Article 370 Article 35A, said Chrungoo. It needs to be clarified that Article 370 is a part of the Constitution as a “temporary provision” and was incorporated and made effective from January 26, 1950 while the Instrument of Accession was signed on October 26, 1947. The Article 35A was adopted by the Government of the day scrumptiously through the Presidential Order in 1954 and there is a big question mark even on its existence as a part of the Constitution since it was not included in the Constitution in accordance with Article 368 specifying the procedure of amendment in the Constitution, he added.
He said the Article in question is an infringement of the Article 14 and Article 16 of the Constitution.
With regard to the statement about accession and merger of the State, the argument in itself is irrelevant and absurd as there was no case for merger after the accession, he said. The confusion in this regard represents the confused state of mind of Congress and Congressmen. Similarly, the nomenclature of the so-called Sadr-e-Riyasat and Wazir-e-Azam was an exception evolved to appease certain political figures which had no constitutional or legal sanction and was thus abolished by the same party that created it. The Government is on record in this regard that “the clock cannot be taken backward”, Chrungoo added.
Balbir Ram Rattan said that in regard to the development of the two Parliamentary Constituencies of Jammu region, the last five years have brought a sea change in the landscape of these areas. Both the sitting MPs of the two constituencies, Dr. Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore Sharma have documented their developmental projects in their respective constituencies. These constituencies have also invited the kind attention of the Prime Minister a number of times, who personally intervened in the development projects. Two Table Books pertaining to the development in the two constituencies were also circulated in the press conference.
The huge response of the people to the rallies of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and BJP president, Amit Shah in Jammu region has created records and is a clear signal of the mood of the people of the State. Development has been an important link that has given extension to the area of influence and operation of BJP. The overwhelming public response that the Prime Minister’s and the Party president’s rallies gather throughout the length and breadth of the country is a pointer towards the shape of future events. The people, it is clear, have made up their mind to bring Modi back to power to continue the good work of the past five years relating to “Vichardhara, Vikaas, Vistaar and Vishwas”.