Article 370 anti-people, says Sangh Parivar

JAMMU: Amid widening of differences with the PDP on peace initiatives and the GST issue, the Sangh Parivar today confronted Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by dubbing Article 370 as anti-people and Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution as the “biggest constitutional fraud.

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 23

Amid widening of differences with the PDP on peace initiatives and the GST issue, the Sangh Parivar today confronted Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti by dubbing Article 370 as anti-people and Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution as the “biggest constitutional fraud.”

The Sangh Parivar, which includes the BJP, availed the opportunity on the death anniversary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee to take on Mehbooba on the issues which are core to the saffron party’s ideology.

On January 30 this year, Mehbooba had launched an indirect attack on the Sangh Parivar by dubbing all opponents of Articles 370 and 35-A as “anti-nationals.”

Though the BJP leadership at that time had failed to effectively counter Mehbooba due to coalition compulsions, the Sangh Parivar was waiting for an appropriate opportunity to hit back.

Today a seminar was held under the aegis Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee Research Foundation on “Jammu and Kashmir: The Present Scenario and Our Responsibilities and Duties.” Addressing the seminar, Krishna Gopal, sah sarkaryavah (national joint general secretary) of the RSS, said both the Articles were result of the politics of appeasement and these were depriving people of J&K of various rights and privileges.

Though the RSS leader did not mention name of any party, his message was clear that the Sangh Parivar would stick to its core agenda

“Article 35-A is the one of the biggest constitutional fraud,” he said, adding that the Article was incorporated into the Constitution through a presidential order on May 14, 1954, without any debate in Parliament.

In the presence of BJP ministers, MPs and legislators, Gopal said Article 370 was depriving people of J&K of many privileges and was also denying constitutional rights to the weaker sections of the state. He specially mentioned that the Scheduled Tribes were not getting political reservation due to Article 370.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said, “For us power is not important. We are committed to our ideology and our agenda is to strengthen nationalist forces in J&K.” He said the BJP would not compromise with national interest at any cost.

Rejecting Mehbooba’s demand for engaging with separatists and Pakistan for restoring peace in J&K, the Deputy Chief Minister said there was no question of holding dialogue with the Hurriyat or Pakistan at this point of time.