Abrogation Article 35A detrimental to country

The Supreme Court is set to resume hearings regarding the Constitutional validity of Article 35A of the Constitution of India. The contentious article guarantees special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir by not allowing people from outside to work, settle or own property in the site. Former Chief Minister of J&K, Sayed Mehbooba Mufti has already warned the Centre not to scrap the same as if it is Centre's decision. This matter is resting in the court and the apex court of India is gearing up to hear the same from Monday.

The Supreme Court will analyse if Article 35A violates the basic structure of India's polity. Security is already being beefed up in Kashmir valley in general ahead of the hearing following Pulwama attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on the CRPF personnel which took the lives of 44 personnel in all finally. There has been bitterness over the same and political turmoil in India too. But, by no means this should be seen as a hindrance to beef up the security in Kashmir following the attack.

The Opposition might have a different view, but everyone should understand that the it is the Supreme Court that is going to make the decision on the validity of the Article but not the Centre. If anyone has a grouse against the BJP government or a heartburn with it, it is not the fault of the Centre. So many petitions have been filed by several organisations against the Article and by several people, that it remains a matter of concern for everyone in the country.

Kashmir is an integral part of the country, despite the machinations of Pakistan and those within the country about it. As tensions prevail in the Kashmir valley after the dastardly attack of Pulwama and the subsequent warmongering in the country, the hearing assumes severe proportions. The court is to hold an in-chamber hearing on petitions challenging the Constitutional validity of the contentious article. Ahead of the court date, the Modi government will make an oral mention of its stand on the issue during the hearing but will not make a written submission.

Discussions to finalise the government's stance have been restricted and confined to a core group of the ruling party, the BJP comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. This in effect means that these four wise men of our country are taking and making a decision on the future of not only Kashmir but also India.

Whether these succeed in providing the right direction and guidance to the future generations and try to keep the geography of the country intact is to be seen. There are serious differences on the issue as scrapping of the Article 35A itself would nullify the accession of Kashmir to India. These are all Constitutional matters and India needs to weigh all these carefully keeping in view the international fora too. Meanwhile, the fool-proof security measures in Kashmir are welcome as the crackdown on separatists has already begun.