Retention of Art 35A is national policy of Congress: Brig Gupta

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 8: Retention of Article 35A is the national policy of Congress as this has been clarified by Congress Chief Spokesperson who confirmed to a prominent TV channel that entire Congress stands behind the demand of article 35A retention.
This was said by Brig Anil Gupta, BJP State Spokesperson in a statement.
“Thus, the Congress party has admitted that it had been merely playing vote bank politics with West Pakistan refugees, Gorkhas, Valmiki Samaj and daughters of the soil every time on the eve of elections by promising their rights to them,” Brig Gupta maintained.
“There are enough remedies available to meet the aspirations of the affected people without tinkering with Article 35A but the leadership of Kashmir centric parties, who have been ruling the State was never been sincere about addressing the genuine grievances because their entire politics revolves around the Kashmir public,” Brig Gupta said.
He said that these political parties want to play politics in name of Article 35A through emotional exploitation of the people and create polarisation in the State on the basis of notorious Dixon Plan.
“Article 9 of the Constitution of J&K permits changing the definition of Permanent Citizen if needed. However, no Government so far has availed the remedy provided by the Constitution to resolve the citizenship issue of West Pakistan refugees, Gurkhas, Valmiki Samaj,” Brig Gupta further said.
He said that it is the lack of intent and not lack of mechanics available to address the issue.
“If Article 9 can be revoked to grant permanent citizenship to Tibetan Muslim refugees, why the same cannot be done in respect of Hindu refugees of Jammu region? It obviously is to protect State’s Muslim majority character and these parties call themselves secular and dub BJP as communal,” rued Brig Gupta.
“As far as gender inequality is concerned, despite the favourable judgement in Sushila Sawhney case, it is highly condemnable that both NC and PDP attempted to misuse the provision of Article 9 by introducing bill in the Assembly titled Women (Disqualification) Bill to deny to the women their justified rights. Fortunately the Bills did not see the light of the day,” said Brig Gupta.