Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: Chief patron of National Panthers Party Prof Bhim Singh has said that the BJP leadership stood completely exposed on the floor of the Parliament when the Government made an exclusive statement that the present status arising out of Article 370 shall remain unchanged.
The NPP supremo said that the people of India voted for BJP on its agenda vis-à-vis J&K. He said that there is a need to amend Article 370 in the Constitution so as to empower Parliament to legislate in respect of J&K as has been the practice in respect of all other states in the country.
Prof.Singh said it is shocking that the Members of Lok Sabha have no idea about the most tragic effects caused by the provisions in Article 370 of Constitution of India which debars Parliament of India to make any law vis-à-vis J&K even the Parliament cannot make any law on Defence, Foreign Affairs or Communication.
He said that 95 MPs in the Parliament are totally ignorant of the fact that Article 370 has vested (illegal) power in the President of India to issue Presidential Orders in emergency if any urgent legislation has to be introduced relating to Defence, Foreign Affairs or Communication. This President of India cannot do unless the President seeks concurrence from the Govt. of J&K. There is another condition that the Government of J&K which is competent to give its concurrence has to be the Government which was appointed by Maharaja Hari Singh (the then ruler of J&K) on March 5, 1948. Further he said that any amendment in Article 370 is possible only on the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of J&K which died down in 1957 following the enactment of J&K Constitution. The Constituent Assembly is dead and gone.
Prof Singh further said the Monarchy was abolished on August 20, 1952 by the J&K Constituent Assembly presided by Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah and Article 370 from that date became infructuous. He said that Parliament enjoys absolute power Article 368 of the Constitution to amend any provision in the Constitution of India.
He said that all these national and international dramas vis-à-vis J&K shall end the day Parliament of India is empowered to make law on J&K. That is possible only by an amendment in Article 370.
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