National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah and People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday warned the Centre against any move “aimed at scrapping Article 35A” that grants special rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on owning property and getting jobs.
“It’s our resolve to continue fighting for the protection of Article 35A and Article 370. Any attempt to tinker with the State’s special status will have serious ramifications. A peaceful state like Arunachal Pradesh is also in flames. Any misadventure in fiddling with the special status will unarguably have serious and far-reaching consequences,” said Mr. Abdullah in Srinagar.
Ms. Mufti said: “Article 35A is a part of Article 370 which confers certain rights to citizens of the State. By launching an assault on Article 35-A, there are attempts being made to change the Muslim-majority character of J&K. Scrapping it will nullify the legitimacy of accession of J&K with the Indian Union,” warned Ms. Mufti.
