Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 29: Peoples Conference Senior Vice President Abdul Gani Vakil today said that Article 35A and Article 370 are the “Articles of trust” and warned that any tinkering with these would alter the relationship between JK and the Union of India
“Article 35 A and Article 370 are a matter of faith and dignity for the people of the State through which the Constitution of India guarantees to safeguard the special identity and unique status of Jammu and Kashmir. These articles are safeguards of the mainstream thought and politics in Kashmir valley. Any fiddling with the special status of J&K would result in the end of mainstream politics in the State”, he said.
Questioning the decisions to send 100 additional companies at a time when the rumours are rife suggesting a threat to Article 35A, Vakil said that the reaction would manifest in terms of alienation, in terms of anger in the coming decades.
“The rumors of a possible threat to Article 35 A and other provisions safeguarding our special identity has created panic among the people of Kashmir. The promise and stated intent of the ruling party to abrogate the special status accorded to the State of J&K is deeply distressing. If Delhi indeed intends to repeat its tried, tested and failed experiments of diluting the special powers enjoyed by J&K and using force to suppress Kashmiris, they are only going to fail like on previous occasions”, he added
Vakil asserted that any move to further erode whatever is left of the special identity will be counter productive with disastrous consequences.
“Rather than instilling confidence in the people of Kashmir, GoI is instilling fear in the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir. It would not merely be treated as a threat to the special identity of the State but also an attack on the Muslim identity of Kashmir. Such a misadventure would kill all hopes of any reconciliation between the people of Kashmir and rest of India in the immediate future. It would also mean death of those who believe the solution to Kashmir issue lies in a dignified relationship, based on trust and respect within the constitution of India”, he added.
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