Though coalition governments are run on mutual trust and cooperation but for the first time in post-1947 political history of Jammu & Kashmir the friendly gestures of ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) are not reciprocated by the ally BJP both in the matters of routine governance and the implementation of the Agenda of Alliance. The political storm triggered by a controversial petition of a non governmental organization (NGO) “We the Citizens” known for its knee deep connections with RSS in Nagpur and BJP in Delhi has shaken the roots of the working of the coalition government headed by Mehbooba Mufti. The blunt denial of BJP controlling and commanding the central government to lend support to the Jammu & Kashmir government in contesting the case against article 370 shows the disrespects BJP top brass shows to the “agenda of alliance” scripted between PDP and BJP for government formation in the state. Recently PDP lent huge support to BJP in etending article 101 of the Indian constitution to implement Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Jammu & Kashmir against the whims and wishes of the people of the state but BJP does not bother to support PDP even in contesting the case against article 35 A challenged by a non governmental organization (NGO) in the supreme court. Had BJP been concerned about the strict adherence to the “agenda of alliance”, the party controlling and commanding the central government would not have restrained the Attorney General of India from filing even a simple affidavit against the controversial petition against article 35 A.
Though Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is fulfilling her constitutional duty and abiding by her party’s commitment on state’s status by strongly contesting the case on article 35 A in the supreme court but she is hesitant to seek support from BJP for rectification of the presidential order on article 35 A the way BJP sought her party’s support to extend article 101 of Indian constitution for implementing goods and service tax in Jammu & Kashmir and the hesitation of the Chief Minister is sufficient enough an indication of the BJP’s unfriendly gestures on contentious issues.
Though defending the controversial petition against article 35 A in the Supreme court of the coyntry is as good a duty of the central government as it is of the state government but the attorney general of India representing central government in the supreme court has surprisingly conveyed its reservations to the court in responding to the petition against article 35 A and this is sufficient enough to indicate the unfriendly gestures BJP shows on contentious issues concerning special status of the state particularly Article 35 A. Though Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti claims to have got assurances of full support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on protection of article 35 A but neither the Prime Minister’s office not any other concerned central government functionary has announced central government’s support to Jammu & Kashmir government in its legal fight against article 35 A governing state’s property rights act. Mehbooba’s claims of assurance from the Prime Minister should have been either endorsed or rejected by either the Prime Minister’s office or any other central government functionary. Though Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is fulfilling her constitutional duty and abiding by her party’s commitment on state’s status by strongly contesting the case on article 35 A in the supreme court but she is hesitant to seek support from BJP for rectification of the presidential order on article 35 A the way BJP sought her party’s support to extend article 101 of Indian constitution for implementing goods and service tax in Jammu & Kashmir and the hesitation of the Chief Minister is sufficient enough an indication of the BJP’s unfriendly gestures on contentious issues.
