State Times News
JAMMU: While terming Article 35A as unconstitutional, BJP MLC Ashok Khajuria on Wednesday said that it should be abrogated in the interest of the State to end ‘blackmail’ of Kashmir centric politicians.
“Article 35A is not in the interest of the State and it must go,” Khajuria said.
He said, “It should immediately be scrapped to end decades old ‘blackmailing’ of Kashmir centric leadership,” adding, “It is illegal, unconstitutional and promoting separatism in the Kashmir valley.”
“Longer it will stay, more it will have dangerous repercussions,” he added.
The MLC also lashed out at the Kashmir centric parties and said, “Those who are opposing settlement of refugees, are making way for Rohingyas and foreign citizens living illegally in the State.”
Article 35A of the Indian Constitution empowers the Jammu and Kashmir government to define “permanent residents” of the State and allow only state subjects to settle down and buy property in the State, which is unfortunate.” Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has warned against tinkering with Article 35A saying that there would not be anybody to hoist the Tricolour in Kashmir in that eventuality.