Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 29: Ruling BJP and various pro-Jammu outfits have strongly reacted against Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s warning that India will not get a shoulder to carry its National Flag in the State if there is an alteration in special status of J&K and Article 35-A.
In a statement, State BJP chief spokesperson, Sunil Sethi said that the Chief Minister’s remark doesn’t depict true picture and is politically incorrect. “Article 35-A rather is introduced in Constitution of India through process of Article 370 and in fact has led to only disparity and inequalities in the State. As Article 35-A saves State subject laws from applicabilities of concept of equality, it has led to a situation on unequal treatment of female State subjects and their children within State,” he explained.
Reiterating that the BJP stands by Agenda of Alliance and won’t seek alteration of existing Constitutional position, Sethi said that at the same time, it was equally true that Article 35-A has created more harm to State than any other provision of the law.
Sunil Sethi further said that the statement of Chief Minister was not happily worded as bearing National Flag in the State is an honour for all citizens and the party firmly believes that every person of State is first Indian and then State subject and nationalism of the people of State can’t be understated of misstated by linking it with continuation of Article 35- A.
BJP State spokesperson, Prof Virender Gupta has also expressed his great shock and surprise on the statement of Chief Minister. In a hard hitting Statement, he said that few thousands of terrorists and separatists do not constitute the whole Kashmir Valley and J&K State is not Kashmir Valley alone. “The State constitutes Jammu and Ladakh also and Kashmir merely constitutes its 16 percent area. The majority of the population in Jammu and Kashmir is nationalist and committed to uphold the integrity of the country and believes that their interests and aspirations are safe as being Indians,” he explained.
“Article 370 was incorporated in Indian Constitution as a temporary provision. It is not a sacred cow that cannot be touched. On number of occasions, the provisions of Indian Constitution were introduced in the State for the benefit of its people. If its removal is for the interests of Indian nation and beneficial to the people of the State, then its abrogation should be done, of course with the consent of the State as well of the people of India,” the BJP leader said and added that if the great wall between the West German and East German can be broken and all the Germens enjoy the equal benefits of democracy, development and prosperity, why should the people of Jammu and Kashmir not become the complete part of whole Indian Nation and get benefitted by the privileges, those the other country men are enjoying.
Jammu Province People Forum (JPPF), an amalgam of more than 50 social, commercial and other organizations, held an emergency meeting under the guidance of its president Pavitar Singh (Retd District and Session Judge) , in which all members of the Forum strongly condemns controversial statement of the CM and opinion that such remarks boost up the moral of the separatists.
“Moreover we request her not to worry about Tiranga (national flag), there is no dearth of nationalistic people in the State of J&K, they are available in abundance in all the three regions,” they said.
Alleging that these politicians always keep themselves busy in destructive politics rather doing something good for the people, JPPF said there is severe problem of water, electricity, roads, unemployment, decline in business and chaos in Health sector but no one is looking after these vital issues hampering public life.
Those who participated and spoke in the meeting, included Er M S Katoch (working president), M L Sharma, Prof O P Sharma, Rajesh Thakur, InderJeet Khajuria, R S Jamwal, Balwan Singh, Sunita Sharma, Preeti Chowdhary, Rajinder Gupta, Kamla Sharma, P S Slathia, Surinder Vir, Kuldip Sharma, Nirmal Singh Jamwal and others.
National Panthers Party activists, led by Prof Bhim Singh, held a protest demonstration at the lawns of Jantar Mantar, New Delhi this afternoon demanding immediate dismissal of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for her anti-Indian Flag remarks in Srinagar yesterday.
Prof Bhim Singh urged the President of India to intervene in this matter as a Chief Minister has dared challenging the integrity of the State of J&K with the Union of India.
Bhim Singh also urged the Governor of J&K to invoke Section 92 of J&K Constitution dismissing the BJP supported Government and take an appropriate legal action against the Chief Minister for her anti-national statement and threat to the National Flag.
Reacting strongly, JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said that C.M. Mufti has no right to quote the example of national flag in any form and hurt the nationalist sentiments by insulting national flag, what so ever may be her reasoning or context.
He questioned BJP over the statement and utterances of Mehbooba Mufti, who is Chief Minister on their strength but she is even questioning the utility of NIA investigations as well propagating her illogical and highly objectionable agenda. The BJP has not only surrendered its agenda and elections slogans but has sacrificed all the principles and national interests to share power in the state, he added.
He questioned the BJP to explain what kind of freedom of idea is being advocated by their coalition partner and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and said that she has lost right to continue in office.
Shiv Sena (Bala Sahib Thackery) has also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. While talking to media persons, here today, State chief of Shiv Sena, Dimpy Kohli and general secretary Manish Sahni said that the way Mehbooba Mufti has shown her disregard for the National Flag, is a matter of great concern and Modi led Central Government must take concrete action on this issue.
“With this statement now, Mehbooba Mufti has no moral right to continue as Chief Minister of State. And if she does not resign on her own, Modi Government must sack her and impose Governor rule in the State immediately,” they said.
The Shiv Sena leaders also criticized BJP for acting as a mute spectator only for the sake of power. “BJP is a power hungry party and has lost its dignity for remaining in the seat,” they alleged.
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