BANIHAL : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today warned political parties demanding removal of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, saying “it was a bridge between the state and rest of the country”.
Speaking after the inauguration of the Banihal-Qazigund rail by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the Chief Minister referred to the controversial Article which was “a result of the agreement between first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and first Kashmir chief minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.”
Any move to weaken or remove this provision would be met with heavy resistance, said the Chief Minister.
Without naming Bharatiya Janata Party, Mr Abdullah said leaders of some party are demanding removal of the Article, under which the Jammu and Kashmir enjoys special status.
These leaders are aware that any move to remove this Article will automatically weaken relations of the state with India, the Chief Minister said, questioning why the NDA government headed by them (BJP) did not remove it when they were in power.
Mr Abdullah said these leaders did not even talk about it then. To mislead the people of the country, these leaders were raising this issue only when they were out of power, he said.
If, they (BJP) come to power, though there was no chance for next two decades, they can take a decision to remove this Article, he said but warned that “they have to do so over our dead bodies”.
Mr Abdullah said the rail link has further cemented relations between the Valley with the rest of the country.
The Chief Minister said, “I have never dreamt to travel on rail through Pir Panjal range, which has come true today,” Mr Abdullah said, adding this was the happiest journey of his life which he would never forget.
(AGENCIES)
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