The stand taken by Narendra Modi led BJP government during crucial hearing on August 6 in the supreme court and the statements of two former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti over the continuing row on article 35 A are sufficient enough to show the tendencies of the top political parties in both Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir to use the issue as a poll plank in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On one hand the BJP leaders talk against article 35 A in an attempt to exploit the sentiments of the people in rest of India ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections but on the other hand the Modi led BJP government at the centre sought adjournment of the case citing the preparedness for proposed panchayat and municipal elections and the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as interlocutor for dialogue in Jammu & Kashmir as reasons for its adjournment plea. Virtually showing its displeasure over the plea taken by the central government for the deferment of the case the Supreme Court cited lack of quorum the only reason for deferment. Interestingly the attorney general K K Venugopal representing the central government had endorsed the pleas of the Jammu & Kashmir government for the deferment of the case but the Supreme Court virtually refused to entertain the pleas of both the central and the state governments by citing lack of quorum the only reason for deferment of this sensitive case related to the future of citizenship and property rights of the permanent residents of Jammu & Kashmir. Obviously the Modi government’s plea for deferment of the proceedings on this sensitive case related to citizenship and property rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir is sufficient enough to indicate that BJP tends to use the case as a poll plank the way it used Babri Masjid demolition case for furtherance of its poll prospects for about two decades.
Better for mainstream leaders in Jammu & Kashmir and the BJP’s central high command to stop using article 35 as poll plank for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections and show respect to the political emotions of the people of Jammu & Kashmir who irrespective of regional and religious affiliations have put up a brave front against attacks on Article 35 A governing their citizenship and property rights.
Knowing that the petition moved by lesser known NGO “we the citizens’ is a fit case for dismissal keeping in view the constitutional and legal strength of Article 35 A better it would have been for the Modi government to file a counter affidavit to defend article 35 A at least to show respect to the political emotions of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Taking a cue from the political tendencies of the BJP government at the centre the PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti who till yesterday as head of a coalition government in Jammu & Kashmir used to move pleas for deferment of the case issued a statement to demand dismissal of the case. If PDP is really interested in dismissal of the petition filed for abrogation of Article 35 A then why Mehbooba Mufti as party president did not depute her party’s senior most colleague Muzaffar Hussain Baig with an application for intervention to defend the case in the supreme court as Mr Baig in the eyes of many people within PDP is a constitutional expert of great repute. Moving miles ahead of Mehbooba Mufti in playing politics over the issue National Conference Vice President and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in one of his tweets said “ protecting Article 35 A is a tacit acceptance that future of Jammu & Kashmir lies in the constitution of India” but is Omar Abdullah tending to dispute the fact that as long as status quo on Jammu & Kashmir continues the people of Jammu & Kashmir have no other option but to defend their rights within the constitution of India and would he tell us that how many separatists travelled to Saudi Arabia on Indian passport for Haj pilgrimage during his six year stint as Chief Minister. Better for mainstream leaders in Jammu & Kashmir and the BJP’s central high command to stop using article 35 as poll plank for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections and show respect to the political emotions of the people of Jammu & Kashmir who irrespective of regional and religious affiliations have put up a brave front against attacks on Article 35 A governing their citizenship and property rights.
