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Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reacted strongly to the remarks made by Union finance Minister Arun Jaitley regarding Article 35 A in Jammu and Kashmir. Jaitley in his comments had advocated repeal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Abdullah reportedly said any such talk will raise questions on the accession of the state to India as well.
He told reporters that the BJP and its leadership would have to tread carefully on this issue and the terms and condition cannot be renegotiated.
“If you want to debate Article 370 and Article 35A, then I am sorry, there will be questions raised on the accession as well, because accession was on these very terms,” he told reporters
The former chief minister said he was surprised when people talked about removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. “How do they want to do it? This state became part of the country on the basis of this special status… Accession was on the basis of a negotiated settlement by virtue of which the state had all the powers, except those related to currency, communications, defence and foreign affairs,” he said.
“Nowhere has it been made time-bound, like it will last for 10 or 20 years. It is a straightforward thing — as long as this state is part of India, it will be given the special status,” he added.
Abdullah said the special status and identity of Jammu and Kashmir was under severe threat. “This danger is not new but has increased over the past five years, especially since 2015 when BJP joined the state government,” he alleged.
