Lucknow: On Sunday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday said Articles 370 and 35A should be seriously reviewed and scrapped. While Article 370 grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir and limits Parliament's power to make laws regarding the state, Article 35A empowers the state assembly to determine 'permanent residents' for conferring special rights and privileges on them.
also read: Mumbai voting today; all eyes on the star contest in three of six parliamentary constituencies
Speaking at a voters’ awareness programme here, he attacked National Conference leader Omar Abdullah for his recent remarks that there should be a separate prime minister for Kashmir. "When a person, who has occupied a Constitutional post says such things, then Articles 370 and 35A should be seriously reviewed. Since these (provisions) have mostly caused losses, Article 370 and 35A should be scrapped."
Mr. Singh said, "There is a conspiracy in Jammu and Kashmir. Some organizations want to kindle the feelings of separatism among the people, but the majority want to stay with India. Barring three-four organizations, the rest are with India" The Lok Sabha MP praised PM Narendra Modi. International Monetary Fund has endorsed that India is growing at rapid speed, he said.
On Saturday, the Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti said that “if Kashmir is at loss because of these articles, they should set Kashmir free”. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that if he (Modi) thinks that special status has caused loss to State, let them leave Kashmir. She claimed that she had made it clear to PM that if they tinker with the Article 370 she will leave the Government.
also read: BJP’s Vijayvargiya give a shocking statement, If Mamta Banerjee wins, ISIS will enter anytime