News Analysis India

Tag: Article 370

  • PM Modi to meet 14 J&K leaders in Delhi on June 24; first since abrogation of Article 370

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: As many as 14 leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including four former chief ministers of the erstwhile state, have been invited for a meeting that will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on June 24, officials said on Saturday.

    Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla reached out to these leaders to invite them to the meeting at the prime minister’s residence to discuss the future course of action for the union territory, the officials said.

    Among those invited are four former chief ministers — Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

    Four former deputy chief ministers of the erstwhile state — Congress leader Tara Chand, People’s Conference leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, and BJP leaders Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta — too have been invited to the meet.

    In addition, CPI(M) leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) chief Altaf Bukhari, Sajjad Lone of the People’s Conference, J-K Congress head G A Mir, BJP’s Ravidner Raina, and Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh have been invited to the meeting.

    The meeting — the first such exercise since the Centre announced the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and its bifurcation into union territories in August 2019 — is likely to be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders.

    When contacted, Omar Abdullah said that he had received an invitation and would go along the direction of the party chief.

    Sources in the National Conference said that over the next few days, the senior Abdullah will be holding consultations with party leaders.

    The Political Affairs Committee of the PDP would also be meeting on Sunday to take a decision about the talks.

  • Congress should explain stand on Article 370, says Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad after Digvijay’s remarks

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday asked the Congress leadership to make its stand clear on the purported remarks of Digvijay Singh that his party will have a “relook” at Article 370 revocation if it returns to power, saying “time of silence is over”.

    A row erupted on Saturday over Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s comments in an audio chat on social media that his party will have a “relook” at Article 370 revocation and Jammu and Kashmir’s lost statehood if it returns to power, with the BJP accusing him of spewing venom against India in “collaboration” with Pakistan.

    “It is now more than a day when the central leadership of the Congress is maintaining a conspicuous silence on its stand about Article 370. Does the Congress want restoration of Article 370 as Digvijay Singh has indicated? Time of silence is over. Please explain your clear stand,” Prasad wrote on Twitter.

    Singh had said, “The decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of J&K is extremely, I would say, sad decision, and the Congress party would certainly have a relook on the issue.

    ALSO READ: Even Ambedkar would have been slandered as pro-Pakistan by BJP, says ex-J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti

    Singh was responding to a question about the “way forward” on the issue “once the Modi government is gone” .

    While abrogating Article 370, good governance was promised both in J&K and Ladakh.

    The speed with which vaccination against COVID-19 is going on even in the remotest parts of J&K and Ladakh is a sign of pro-people good governance in the region, Prasad said in another tweet.

    Singh’s remarks to a person, who the BJP said was a journalist of Pakistani origin, were seized by its leaders on Saturday to unleash a torrent of criticism against the opposition party and demand statements from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi on the issue.

  • Even Ambedkar would have been slandered as pro-Pakistan by BJP, says ex-J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: The BJP would have slandered even B R Ambedkar, the father of Indian Constitution, as pro-Pakistan had he been alive, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said Sunday, amidst criticism of Congress leader Digvijaya Singh over his remarks on Article 370.

    Mehbooba said Article 370 — which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir before its operative provisions were nullified by the Centre in 2019 — was granted by the Constitution drafted by Ambedkar, but it has been “subverted” by the Centre.

    Her remarks came amidst growing criticism of the Congress and Singh over his purported comments in an audio chat on social media that his party will have a “relook” at Article 370 revocation and Jammu and Kashmir’s lost statehood if it returns to power.

    The BJP has said that Singh’s remarks were part of a larger pattern of the party being “hand in glove” with Pakistan.

    PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was a BJP ally for some time in Jammu and Kashmir, criticised the saffron party.

    “Thank god Ambedkar ji isn’t alive or else he too would be slandered as pro- Pakistan by BJP,” she said on Twitter.

    Singh had purportedly made the remark during a clubhouse conversation with a person, who the BJP said was a journalist of Pakistani origin.

    “The decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of J&K is extremely, I would say, sad decision, and the Congress party would certainly have a relook on the issue,” Singh had said, according to excerpts of the clubhouse conversation available on social media.

  • ‘Stick to party lines on Article 370’: Congress to its leaders after Digvijay’s remarks spark controversy

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday asked its leaders to follow the party’s stance on the issue of abrogation of Article 370 as articulated in the August 6, 2019 resolution of the CWC, after its leader Digvijay Singh’s remarks sparked a row.

    “The decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of J&K is extremely, I would say, sad decision, and the Congress party would certainly have a relook on the issue,” Singh purportedly said, according to excerpts of his clubhouse conversation available on social media.

    He was responding to a question about the “way forward” on the issue “once the Modi government is gone”.

    The BJP launched a scathing attack on Singh and top party leaders, accusing them of speaking “the language of Pakistan” and spewing venom against India.

    “The Congress Party has clearly stated its position on Jammu and Kashmir, in its resolution of August 6, 2019 of the Congress Working Committee. This is the only official stance of the party.”

    “I urge and request all senior leaders to refer to the same,” Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said, when asked about Singh’s remarks.

    ALSO READ | Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s comment on ‘relook’ at Article 370 revocation in J&K draws ire of BJP

    The CWC resolution of August 6, 2019 had said that it “deplores the unilateral, brazen and totally undemocratic manner in which Article 370 of the Constitution was abrogated and the State of Jammu and Kashmir was dismembered by misinterpreting the provisions of the Constitution.”

    “Every principle of Constitutional law, states’ rights, Parliamentary procedure and democratic governance was violated,” the opposition party alleged “The Indian National Congress pledges to stand with the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and to fight the BJP and its divisive and diabolical agenda with every power in its hands. We urge the people of J&K to maintain peace and calm,” it said.

    The CWC “strongly reaffirmed the consistent and stated position” of the Indian National Congress that J&K, including the areas under the illegal occupation of Pakistan and the part ceded by it to China, are an integral part of the Republic of India.

    The integration of J&K with India is final and irrevocable, it said, “The CWC firmly asserted that all issues pertaining to J&K are internal matters of India and no outside interference will be tolerated,” the resolution had further said.

    Singh’s remarks to a person, who the BJP said was a journalist of Pakistani origin, were seized by saffron party leaders on Saturday to unleash a torrent of criticism against the opposition party and demand statements from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi on the issue.

  • Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s comment on ‘relook’ at Article 370 revocation in J&K draws ire of BJP

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s comments in a clubhouse conversation that the revocation of Article 370 and stripping Jammu and Kashmir of statehood was an “extremely sad” decision and his party will have a “relook” at the issue have triggered a row, with the BJP accusing him of speaking against India and in agreement with Pakistan.

    Singh’s remarks to a person, who the BJP said was a journalist of Pakistani origin, was seized by the saffron party leaders to hit out at the opposition party with its spokesperson Sambit Patra demanding statements from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi on the issue.

    “The decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of J&K is extremely, I would say, sad decision, and the Congress party would certainly have a relook on the issue,” Singh said, according to bits of conversation available on social media.

    He was responding to a question about the “way forward” on the issue once the Modi government is gone.

    As the BJP attacked him, Singh posted a tweet in Hindi in an apparent jibe at the ruling party.

    “This bunch of illiterate people cannot probably differentiate between ‘shall’ and ‘consider’,” the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said.

    Attacking him, Patra told reporters, “We have all seen how Digvijay Singh is spitting venom on India and speaking in agreement with Pakistan. This is the same person who had dubbed the Pulwama attack as an accident and described the 26/11 Mumabi attack as RSS conspiracy.”

    The BJP leader cited old comments of other Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mani Shankar Aiyar, to allege that Singh’s remarks were part of a larger pattern of the party being “hand in glove” with Pakistan.

    “This is all part of the toolkit which the BJP had exposed,” Patra said in a reference to a controversial document rejected as fake by the Congress.

    The Congress would go to the extent of collaborating with China and Pakistan to spread “hate” against Modi and India, he alleged.

    “The Congress should change its name from INC (Indian National Congress) to ANC, Anti-national Clubhouse. This is such a clubhouse whose members have begun hating India while hating Modi,” he alleged.

    Patra asked Sonia Gandhi and Rahul to make their party’s stand clear on the issue.

    He claimed that Rahul Gandhi is the leader of these Congress politicians, adding that Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan had used his criticism of Article 370 as part of his country’s dossier against India on the issue in the UN.

    Union ministers Giriraj Singh and Kiren Rijiju were among other BJP leaders who targeted the Congress in their tweets over the issue.

    Singh alleged, “Congress’s first love is Pakistan. Digvijay Singh conveyed Rahul Gandhi’s message to Pakistan. Congress will help Pakistan in grabbing Kashmir.”

  • BJP attacks Gupkar Alliance, calls it group of opportunists  

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: BJP on Friday called the six-party Gupkar Alliance seeking restoration of special status for J&K as an “alliance of opportunists”. 

    “Gupkar leaders remained dormant from public service during the Covid-19 and met after six months only for political gains,” BJP general secretary Vibodh Gupta told reporters.

    He was referring to a meeting of Gupkar Alliance a few days back in which the leaders of the six alliance members reiterated that they stand for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and statehood to J&K and said doors are open for talks.

    “The Gupkar Alliance was not visible during the Covid-19 pandemic. They had made zero contributions during the pandemic. It is an alliance of opportunist leaders and the same is palpable by their conduct,” Gupta said.

    Referring to the speculations on changes to J&K status, he said, “These are all rumours and nothing else. Some people want to again create an atmosphere of fear and terror in the Valley.” ​He said nothing big is going to happen except delimitation. 

    “The delimitation commission will carry out a delimitation exercise. There is no political interference. We are associate members, but we have no role in the delimitation exercise. There will be no injustice in any district.”

  • Indian institutions have stopped taking notice of human rights violations, UN should step in: Mehbooba Mufti

    Mehbooba said anyone who raised voice against the wrong measures of the Government of India (GOI) was labelled as quot;Pakistani agent quot;.

  • Pakistan Foreign Minister Makes Big Admission: ‘Article 370 Is India’s Internal Matter’

    In an embarrassment for the Imran Khan-led government, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi conceded that abrogation of Article 370 is India’s internal matter. As per a clip shared by Pakistani journalist Naila Inayat, Qureshi is heard making this admission in an exclusive interview with Samaa TV. In fact, he also pointed out that the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir has been challenged in the Supreme Court. 

    Moreover, he claimed that a huge section in India was of the belief that this move did not prove to be beneficial for India. The PTI leader also stressed that all outstanding issues can be settled only through dialogue as war will be “suicidal”. This comes as a clear departure from the consistent stance adopted by Pakistan that there cannot be normalization of ties until the Centre restores Article 370. 

    A Presidential notification combined with requisite legislation passed by both the House of Parliament in August 2019 led to Article 370 becoming virtually redundant. This implied that the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was scrapped. Furthermore, the region was bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Thereafter, restrictions on the movement of people and communication were imposed in the state, which was gradually lifted over the months.READ | Pakistan: Data shows only one COVID-19 vaccine administered per hundred people

    After leaders such as former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were released post months of detention, 6 political parties joined hands to form the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration in August 2020. The principle aim of this alliance is to strive for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and statehood. Subsequently, PAGD emerged as the single-largest party in the first-ever District Development Council polls in J&K by bagging 110 seats. 

  • J&K government to screen employees allegedly involved in anti-national activities

    Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has formed a Special Task Force (STF) to screen and identify government employees allegedly involved in anti-national activities.

    Those found to be involved in such activities may lose their jobs, sources warned.

    The five-member STF, to be headed by Additional Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been authorized to identify and scrutinize the cases of the government employees suspected of activities requiring action under the proviso (C) of Article 311(2) of the Constitution of India.

    The proviso (C) of Article 311(2) confers powers on state authorities to dismiss or demote public servants without holding recourse to the normal procedure, if it is satisfied that their retention in public service is prejudicial to the security of the state.

    The STF has been empowered to compile records of such suspected employees and submit the list to the committee constituted last year.

    In July 30 last year, a committee headed by J&K Chief Secretary and comprising  Administrative Secretary Home department, and Director General of Police among others was set up to scrutinise and recommend cases under the proviso (C) of Article 311(2).

    The special task force, according to the order, will engage with other members of the Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) for identifying employees involved in questionable activities. 

    The task force has been asked to scrutinize such cases in a time-bound manner, and shall receive assistance from the CID. 

    On April 16, the police arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) Saima Akhtar, resident of Frisal, in Kulgam district and booked her under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and terminated her services for allegedly obstructing security forces while they were conducting a search operation on April 14. 

  • Mirwaiz Farooq under detention for last 20 months; not released even during Ramzan: Hurriyat

    The Hurriyat leader was detained at his house on August 4, 2019, a day ahead of the Centre announcing the abrogation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir #39;s special status.