New Delhi: On Wednesday Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said that the outfit does not accept Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution. Article 35A provides constitutional protection to Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and grants power to the state legislature to define ‘permanent residents’ of J&K. Article 370 bestows autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir.

However it is to be noted that Bhagwat’s comments come at a time when the issue of Article 35A and Article 370 of the Constitution has turned into a raging debate in the state with the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deciding to boycott the upcoming municipal polls in J&K until the Centre clarifies its stand on the issue.

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While speaking on the last day of the three-day RSS lecture series, Bhagwat said, "Our views on Articles 370 and 35-A are well known. These Articles must go,” as per news agency IANS.  The RSS organised a three-day outreach programme in New Delhi, during which Bhagwat spoke on several issues including inter-caste marriages, cow vigilantism, Hindu rashtra and Ram Mandir.

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Last month, the Supreme Court had decided to postpone the hearing on petitions against Article 35-A to January after the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government asserted that the ongoing court case on the issue could create a law and order situation in the state as the panchayat and urban local body polls are due very soon. However, despite the NC and PDP’s boycott threat, the Election Commission has announced the dates for the municipal polls. The urban local body polls will be held in four phases on October 8 10, 13 and 16. Meanwhile, polling for Panchayat elections will be held in nine phases on November 17, 20, 24, 27, 29 and December 1, 4, 8 and 11.