Khaira asks SAD to clear air on BJP’s stand on Article 370
Monday, 17/11/2014
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CHANDIGARH: Congress spokesman Sukhpal Khaira on Sunday asked Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal to clarify whether he and his party supported the BJP’s demand to repeal Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The beginning to implement this agenda has been made from Jammu and Kashmir going to polls shortly as the BJP has decided to include abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, in its election manifesto, Khaira said.
J&K, at the time of its accession into India, was granted special provisions under Article 370. As per these provisions, there are separate laws as compared to other states, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property and fundamental rights. The provision also stipulates that citizens from other states cannot buy land or property in Jammu and Kashmir.
Opposing Article 25 (2) (b) of the Constitution, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and other senior leaders of SAD, had burnt its copy in front of the Parliament on January 26, 1984, demanding amendment in the Constitution to declare Sikhism a separate religion. “Now Badal and the Shiromani Akali Dal must make their position clear on these issues,” said Khaira.
He said there were many other conflicting issues between the SAD and the BJP, like the implementation of Uniform Civil Code, the SYL river waters dispute and the transfer of Chandigarh.
