Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 5: Taking strong exception to the remarks of National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval that having separate constitution for Jammu and Kashmir was probably an ‘aberration’, People’s Democratic Party today said that internal sovereignty is the matter of right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and its people need no lessons from Mr Doval.
Party’s chief spokesperson Rafi Ahmad Mir in a statement here said that anyone who believes and endorses the Accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India should also have faith in the clause 8 of the Instrument of Accession which provides for internal sovereignty of the State. He said that such inflections and unwarranted remarks of the National Security Advisor when Kashmir Valley is reeling under trouble and witnessing a political turmoil, shows the insensitivity of the NSA towards the people of Kashmir.
Mir said that the State’s internal sovereignty is a matter of right and has a historical significance, although this sovereignty had been reduced to a hollow shell over these years, but still continues to be a matter of our identity, symbol of our collective struggle against autocratic rule. He said that it is unfortunate that when a Muslim dominated state rejected the two nation theory and went to accede with a Hindu majority nation with trust, but we are being harassed, pushed to the wall by these assaults on our state’s special status. He said that this selective discrimination and assaults on state’s special status will only alienate the people further. He said today its not only about protecting Article 370, 35 A or state’s constitution but the continued culture of assaults on our identity is worrying.
Mir said that “ Supreme Court has settled this issue previously in the cases of Prem Nath Kaul v. State of J&K and Rehman Shagoo v. State of J&K, where the court upheld the state’s sovereignty”.The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir came into being in pursuance to Accession to further define the existing relationship of the State with the Union and also to secure strong foundations of democracy, and today the same is being challenged, it is shameful, he added.
Stating that PDP will support every movement aimed at safeguarding state’s special status PDP leader said we stand with all sections of the civil society who have braved to fight for State’s identity with their courage and conviction, we will support them in every endeavour leading to a united opposition against these assaults.
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