SRINAGAR: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah warned the Centre against any move to abrogate Articles 35A and 370 that accord special status to the state and its people.
“Article 35A & Article 370 should not be removed. It forms our foundation. There is no need to remove it. We are Hindustani but they (Article 35A & Article 370) are important for us,” the former CM and National Conference leader said in New Delhi.
“You can call the heads of the Mosques, Temples, and Gurudwaras and enquire about them, Mosques are for offering Namaz and in Gurudwaras they pray to Wahe guru. I am not concerned about it. Those who are in government ask them why they have sent such an order. What is the need for such an order? I too visit mosques. There are never any wrongdoing there,” he said.
This comes days after another former CM Mehbooba Mufti warned that any attempt to tinker with the special status of Jammu and Kashmir would blow up in its face
The Peoples Democratic Party president said, “We want to tell central government that tinkering with Article 35A is like picking up explosives. Not only will those hands burn which are raised to touch 35A but also the whole body will become ashes,” Mufti said at a function.
Article 370 of the Constitution grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Four petitions have challenged Article 35A’s legality in the Supreme Court on the grounds that it was never presented before Parliament and was implemented on the President’s orders in 1954. (PTK)
