SRINAGAR: Members in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today raised the issue of state’s accession with Union of India and Article 370 of the Constitution, though the House was discussing obituary references at the time.
After five members spoke in the House, ruling National Conference (NC) member Sheikh Mustafa Kamal referred to recent criticism of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah by some leaders for his remarks on the state’s accession with Union of India.
‘Nobody can shut the mouth of others for speaking truth,’ Dr Kamal, brother of Union Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, said.
When he was interrupted by National Panthers Party (NPP) member Haresh Dev Singh, Dr Kamal shouted back ‘Either you know fully about the Article 370 and accession or keep silent.’
The Chief Minister has spoken the truth about the state’s accession with Union of India, Dr Kamal said, adding nobody can stop him from speaking truth.
However, the Chief Minister was not present in the House.
He said Article 370 of the Constitution was because of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah which was to safeguard the minorities.
The Article was “weakened” from time to time and “now majority feel insecure.” Mohammad Shafi Niaz said Article 370 was a bridge between Jammu and Kashmir and Union of India.
‘Some people wanted to scrap Article 370 which is going to strengthen the people who wanted a separate Kashmir,’ he said.
BJP member Jugal Kishore demanded that Article 370 should go for overall development of the people of the state. This Article has not addressed the issue of unemployment in the state, he said, adding youths were moving outside the state for employment.
Mr Kishore said in the states which did not have Article 370, have progressed well in every field.
He was however, briefly interrupted by NC, PDP and Independent members.
Independent member Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself has said in the UN that all issues, including the Kashmir, will be resolved with Pakistan.
“If we demand scrapping of Article 370, let us implement the UN resolutions passed in the Security Council on Kashmir,” he said.
However, Tourism Minister and Congress member Ghulam Ahmad Mir clerified that Dr Singh meant, “Issues of Kashmir, not Kashmir issue.”
