JAMMU: National Panthers Party urged upon the President of India to exercise his constitutional authority amending Article 370 to empower Parliament to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country empowering Parliament of India to legislate vis-à-vis Jammu and Kashmir in respect of, at least, three subjects namely Defence, Foreign Affairs and Communication, which were afford to the Union of India by the only competent authority under the British empire.
Briefing media persons here on Thursday, Prof Bhim Singh, Chief Patron NPP, said that the Parliament of India has not acted by the spirit of Accession and that blunder needs to be cured by the Parliament itself at the earliest.
Singh, who was in Kashmir Valley for four days, said that the people of Kashmir deserve all fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of India which include freedom of speech, expression, movement and right to form or join any political party. He said that Fundamental Rights in J and K have been suppressed by introducing Article 35A (it was imposed on the ordinance of President of India in 1954).
Singh demanded immediate revocation of Article 35A by the President of India so that the fundamental rights shall also flow into the J&K State where its residents are citizens of India.
NPP Supremo reminded intervention of the Union Home Ministry in this matter so that Aadhaar Card shall be considered as living evidence to provide ration card to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir who are citizens of India.
Prof Bhim Singh demanded immediate withdrawal of Article 35A and amendment in Article 370 ensuring reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of its geographical identity in 1846 when Kashmir Valley was controlled by the Punjab.
He said that Treaty of Amritsar signed in 1846 should be annulled so that Jammu and Kashmir shall be reorganized on its pre 1846 geographical identity. Let there be confederation between Jammu Pradesh and Kashmir Valley State with one Governor, One High Court but two Chief Ministers. The Ladakhis should be given a choice to choose between Jammu Pradesh or Union Territory status, he added.
Anita Thakur General Secretary, Shanker Singh Chib State Secretary and Neeraj Gupta Zonal President, Jammu were also present.