Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 6: There has been mixed reaction on the passage of resolution on restoration of Article 370 in J&K Assembly today.
While BJP and Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) strongly condemned the resolution, former PCC chief and ex Union Minister, Saif-ud-Din Soz and Mission Statehood congratulated the political mainstream class over pass of resolution.
BJP national general secretary, Tarun Chugh today fired the Omar Abdullah-led NC Government for grossly insulting national institutions like the Constitution and the Supreme Court of India by bringing in a resolution on Article 370 in the Assembly.
“It also amounted to disrespecting the Parliament which had put its stamp on the abolition of Article 370”. Chugh ridiculed the political sense of the Omar Abdullah Government for trying to reverse what the Parliament has approved and what the Supreme Court has allowed.
Lashing out at the NC Government, Chugh said it was a gravely anti-national act of the Omar Abdullah Government which is aimed at pushing the agenda laid down by the Pakistan ISI.
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Gulam Ali Khatana strongly condemned the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly calling for the restoration of Article 370.
Speaking to the media, Khatana accused the National Conference (NC) and its allies of misleading the public in the Union Territory (UT).
“Article 370 was abrogated by the Indian Parliament, a move subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court. A UT Government holds no authority over decisions made by Parliament or validated by the judiciary,” Khatana asserted.
He criticized the resolution, arguing it serves the interests of select families rather than the broader population of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I heartily congratulate the J&K political mainstream class; the NC, the Congress, the PDP, the CPI (M), the Peoples Conference (PC) and the AIP for their resolve to restore Article 370 of the Constitution of India,” former PCC chief, Prof Saifuddin Soz said in a statement issued here, today.
He said it is no doubt, a resolution of great historic importance. He further said the people of the J&K will be recognized for their resolve to achieve the goal and their struggle for it. At this point of time, all the elements of J&K, public opinion, except the BJP, are on the same page.
Sunil Dimple president Mission Statehood organised a welcome rally and congratulated Dr Farooq Abdullah president NC and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alliance Government and the supportive parties for passing the resolution on restoration of article 370 in State Assembly.
The passing of resolution in the J & K Assembly, seeking restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir, by the elected Government was strongly condemned in the meeting of Executive Committee of Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS), Ambphalla, . The Sabha after an in-depth discussion on the ramification of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in 2019 on the KP community, had welcomed the action of Union Government with open arms. The UT of J & K after the abrogation of Art 370 witnessed a sea change in the development of infrastructure and tourism in past five years. The schemes of Union Government were seamlessly implemented in the UT extending basic benefits to all members of the society. The road and rail connectivity received boost to connect the UT with rest of the country. The act of passing the resolution on the restoration of special status is likely to create impediments in the implementation of societal benefit schemes, jeopardise the developmental projects and develop an eyeball to eyeball relationship with the Union Government, Sabha president K K Khosa said.
Kashmiri Pandit Civil Society which also met here, today under the leadership of Hira Lal Bhat also strongly condemned the resolution and said restoration of 370 means depriving West Pak refugees, Walmiki Samaj and women of their rights which they got with the efforts of Narendra Modi Government after annulling controversial Article 370 in 2019. Bhat said that Article 370 was the root cause of genocide of Kashmiri Pandits and its restoration will be on dead bodies of nationalist forces in the country.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) has also strongly condemned the resolution and warned that restoration of Article 370 would provide oxygen to anti national elements and terrorists. KC chief Kundan Kashmiri accused the NC leadership for playing with fire. He said the resolution moved by Deputy CM is cause of concern for victimized KP community. This is yet another example of political double standards and selective empathy from leaders who have, for decades, consistently failed to address the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. He said the NC and its allies have failed to look into the plight of displaced Pandits and they always were hand in glove with those organizations who were responsible for ethnic cleansing of Hindu minorities from Valley.
Senior NC leader, Mehboob Beg has said that the resolution moved by Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary was inevitable to accord proper respect to the will of J&K people.
On social media platform X (former Twitter) Beg wrote: “Welcome the resolution moved by Surinder Choudhary. The move was inevitable to accord proper respect to the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I hope that everyone gets the message loud and clear – This is the will of the people and all regions have spoken unitedly. We must be vary, the pursuit has to be unrelenting.”
BJP National Executive Member and former Minister Priya Sethi while condemning NC-Congress resolution on Article 370 said “is a contempt of the Supreme Court of India and a direct insult to the Judicla system.”
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