Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, PDP Chief and Former J&K CM, Mehbooba Mufti said not to play with fire mentioning not to fiddle with Article-35A. She further said that if its meddled with then she doesn’t know which flag would the people of J&K would pick up instead of the Tricolour.
Mehbooba Mufti also added that the fiddling with Article 35-A, would result in a situation which the country didn’t see since 1947.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti: Don't play with fire; don't fiddle with Article-35A, else you will see what you haven't seen since 1947, if it's attacked then I don't know which flag people of J&K will be forced to pick up instead of the tricolour. pic.twitter.com/8we431nID5
— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2019
In a reaction to that, a retired major of the Indian Army was seen posting a response.
J&K has its own flag, Constitution & penal code. What does Mehbooba Mufti mean when she says that she doesn’t know which flag people of J&K will pick up. They have been picking up the wrong flag since 1952.https://t.co/vXdRQGspGs
— Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) (@majorgauravarya) February 25, 2019
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said that Article 35A of the Constitution is a matter of right and not a privilege.
Mufti said,”J&K is a Muslim majority state which acceded to India under certain conditions and that condition is Article 370…Unfortunately, whenever there are elections, JK becomes a part of electioneering. Before the 2014 polls, Afzal Guru (Parliament attack convict) was sent to the gallows.
She added,”Now, it is the test of the Supreme Court. We have very high regard for the SC and I hope that before taking a decision on Article 35A, the SC would think that Article 370, of whose a part is Article 35A – is a bridge in our relation with the country and any unnecessary fiddling or tampering with it will undermine and nullify the very contract that legitimises the JK accession to India.”
The PDP President Mehbooba Mufti appealed to all political parties in the state to devise a joint strategy to save Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and added that she was in touch with National Conference leader Omar Abdullah over the issue.
Previously, Mehbooba Mufti was seen saying to PM Narendra Modi that the people of J&K are his people and enquired about his Mann Ki Baat on the targeting of Kashmiris.
Sir the people from J&K are also your people. They have paid a heavy price and suffered immensely. What is your mann ki baat on them being harassed and punished for something they aren’t responsible for? https://t.co/Qwq7rCoMnF
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 22, 2019
Mufti was also seen suggesting Pakistan PM, Imran Khan to walk the talk ,after he released his statement on the Pulwama attack.
Disagree. Pathankot dossier was given to them but no action was taken to punish the perpetrators . Time to walk the talk. But Pak PM deserves a chance since he’s recently taken over. Of course the war rhetoric has more to do with the impending elections than anything else. https://t.co/QIOxkzuSth
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 19, 2019
After the Pulwama attack, the government of India revoked the security of almost 150 separatists leader, in a major crackdown.
Also the J&K Police arrested several regional leaders of the valley, as a precautionary measure, following the hearing on Article-35 ,likely to be between 26 to 28th February.
Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Chief Yasin Malik was detained from his residence in Srinagar last night, ahead of hearing on Article 35A in Supreme Court which is likely to take place on Monday. pic.twitter.com/S8c9QFhG1e
— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2019
Reacting to that Mehbooba Mufti said that the move was ‘arbitrary’.
In the past 24 hours, Hurriyat leaders & workers of Jamaat organisation have been arrested. Fail to understand such an arbitrary move which will only precipitate matters in J&K. Under what legal grounds are their arrests justified? You can imprison a person but not his ideas.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 23, 2019
The Home Ministry also deployed 100 companies of CRPF in the Valley, following the unrest in the valley and also to ensure a healthy environment for the coming Lok Sabha elections.
