Full faith in SC over 35A verdict: CM

Ehsan Fazili

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 16

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would take the right decision on the plea regarding the possible abrogation of Article 35A that grants special rights to the permanent residents of J&K.

“We have full faith in the Supreme Court. It has always taken the right decision whenever some people have tried to raise their finger against the state of J&K,” she said while addressing the Independence Day function at Bakshi Stadium here yesterday. The Chief Minister asserted that J&K had a distinct identity among all states in the country.

The function at Bakshi Stadium was held under tight security arrangements amid a bandh call by the separatists. Senior PDP leaders, ministers, legislators, chairman of the state Legislative Council Haji Anayat Ali, former Chief Minister and working president of National Conference Omar Abdullah along with his party legislators were among those present on the occasion. Various contingents of the police, CRPF and schoolchildren participated in the march past.

The Chief Minister said the people of J&K under the leadership of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had decided to be a part of this country and showed the light as people of all faiths live in the state. In view of the circumstances, Mehbooba said Parliament had decided to grant a special position to the state in the Constitution. However, she lamented that mistakes were committed by both the governments in Delhi and state, which led to some differences.

Referring to the Indo-Pak confrontations over the Kashmir issue, the Chief Minister said it had led to the sufferings of the people in J&K during the past 30 years. Mehbooba welcomed Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj statement that dialogue was the only way ahead in resolving border disputes with China. She hoped that Pakistan would also understand the need for peaceful engagement with India and the Central government would also undertake a broad-based outreach treating the issues within the ambit of humanity as initiated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Mehbooba said all issues could be solved through a dialogue process and that was the only way for the restoration of peace in the region. Terming dialogue as the only way ahead to sort out issues, the Chief Minister said if peaceful negotiations could resolve all other issues in the country why couldn’t these help in redressing issues in J&K. Mehbooba said good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan were crucial for the people of the state who bear the brunt of any bitterness between the two countries.

Lamenting that the youth who should be holding pen in their hands were wielding guns, she sought an end to end this menace for peace, progress and development in the state. She said J&K was witnessing a retarded growth despite being rich in natural resources.

CM apprised of industry problems post GST

Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) president Rakesh Gupta called on Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday and apprised her of the problems being faced by the trade and industry after the implementation of the GST. The CCI president told the Chief Minister that the notification for incentives to the industry was much delayed and should not be delayed further.