Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: Provincial President, Devender Singh Rana on Saturday assailed the assertions of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishan Advani on abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and described it as highly irresponsible act having potential to break the constitutional foundations of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at a function at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan this evening, held in connection with the joining of youth from Bishnah in National Conference, the Provincial President said that this important article of the constitution cannot be abrogated.
Senior leaders including former Minister Babu Ram Paul, former MLCs Th Kashmir Singh, Brij Mohan Sharma, Jugal Mahajan, Dr. Kamal Arora, Ramesh Motan, Rakesh Chib, President All J&K Megh Sudhar Sabha M.R. Bhagat, General Secretary Narinder Bhagat, Amar Nath Bhagat were present on the occasion.
The Provincial President said the statement of Mr Advani is highly vulnerable and susceptible to creating serious law and order situation in this border State, where inimical forces are already hell bent to destroy the constitutional relations of J&K with India.
He said that Article 370 is an article of faith envisaged by the constitution makers of the country with Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, who was the towering secular leader of Indian sub-continent. He described Article 370 as basic constitutional link which was incorporated in the Indian Constitution in keeping with the aspirations of all sections of society in the State.
Mr Rana said that BJP is habitual of making irrelevant assertions on Article 370 and did not dare even to touch it when in power for six and half rule of National Democratic Alliance. “BJP is parroting and harping on this slogan only during the times of elections to whip up passions” , he said and maintained that politically sagacious people of India have always foiled their attempts with the contempt these deserve. He cautioned BJP that Article 370 is not the only article which gives special status to any State but Article 371 also gives special status to north-east States.
He also reminded Mr Advani about the Common Minimum Programme of NDA formulated in 1996 under the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and published on 5th June 1996, which inter allia, mentioned that ‘respecting Article 370 of the Constitution, as well as wishes of the people, the problems of Jammu and Kashmir may be resolved through giving the people of the State the maximum degree of autonomy”.
Mr Rana also reminded Mr Advani about the constitutional position vis-a-vis dispensing with such provisos saying this requires constitution of a Constituent Assembly that alone can pass a resolution, recommending abrogation of this article.
“This is not even within the purview of Parliament”, he said adding that this fact is even known to the senior BJP leader, who is raking up the issue just to hoodwink the public opinion.
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