NC to boycott municipal, panchayat elections till Delhi clears its position on Art-35A

Srinagar : National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah a three time former Chief Minister and presently Member Parliament representing central Kashmir Lok Sabha constituency in Parliament Wednesday chaired the party’s Core Group meeting at party Headquarters Nawa –e-Subah Srinagar.
The core Group had a detailed discussion about the prevailing situation of the state with particular reference to Article 35 A of the Constitution. It was felt that any tinkering with Art 35 A would prove disastrous not only for our state but for the entire country.
The role of the central government and the present dispensation in J&K before the SC goes clearly against the wishes and aspirations of the people of the state. They conveniently ignore that this provision was incorporated in the Constitution after thorough discussion between the then state government and Government of India and was made a part of the Delhi Agreement 1952. It was also approved by the states Constituent Assembly as envisaged under Art 370 of the Constitution. It was resolved that J&K National Conference would fight tooth and nail all sinister attempts aimed at interfering with this constitutional guarantee in any manner, whatsoever. Such attempts, if allowed, shall strike at the very basis of relationship between the state and the Union.
Recently announced Urban Local Body polls and Panchayat elections came under discussion. The core group felt that this decision was taken in a hurried manner without taking into consideration the prevailing situation created by the powers that be by unnecessarily fiddling with Art 35 A.
The core group unanimously decided that J&K National Conference will not participate in these elections unless and until Government of India and the state government clears its position in this regard and take effective steps for the protection of Art 35 A in and outside the Courts.