Srinagar, Aug 16: Senior Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra today punctured holes in PDP’s claims of defending the Article 35-A while it was in power, but appreciated the efforts of Governor N N Vohra and his advisors for taking a firm stand on the constitutional provision in the Supreme Court of India.
Addressing a joint press conference with Civil Society Coordination Committee (CSCC) at his Shivpora residence, Karra, a former parliamentarian, said that state’s position in country’s top court is ‘undeniably’ strong given Governor’s firm stand against the PIL challenging Article 35-A.
“State is seriously perusing the case in Supreme Court and the credit goes to Governor Vohra and his advisors. The position of state is strong and I hope final verdict will come in its favor,” said Karra.
Karra, who joined Congress after resigning from parliament and basic membership of PDP in protest against civilian killings during 2016 uprising in Kashmir, blamed PDP for the prevailing uncertainty in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the PDP which headed the coalition government with saffron party for three years took half-hearted measures in defending the constitutional provision ever-since it was challenged in country’s top court.
“They filed half-page counter affidavit signed by Deputy Secretary in the apex court which was instantly rejected by it. Then they filed another affidavit which was also rejected. Finally they filed yet another one before their divorce with BJP whose fate — whether accepted or rejected — is still a mystery,” Karra added.
The Congress leader said BJP’s uncertainty to file counter affidavit in the Supreme Court cleared its intensions as to what the saffron party actually wants.
Karra said BJP and RSS have been toiling to adopt its nefarious design of changing demographic set-up of the state for seventy long years.
He appealed people of all shades of life to be united at this juncture to fight out the “evil designs of the saffron brigade”.
“Everyone irrespective of caste, creed, color and political affiliation should unite on single platform to fight out the challenges thrown on them. This is not issue of Kashmir only, if the Article 35-A is removed it is going to affect everyone equally be it Sikh, Buddhist, Dogra, Pandit or Kashmiri Muslims,” Karra added.
Speaking on the occasion, Awami National Conference (ANC) leader Muzzafar Shah claimed that vast majority in Jammu province after realizing consequences have agreed to defend Article 35-A in the Supreme Court.
He also said that CSCC besides mainstream politician will also take separatist leaders on board to protect the Article 35-A .
“We met M.Y Tarigami and Tariq Hameed Karra who extended their full support to us, now we will be meeting NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah on 18th of this month,” Shah said, adding “we will also hold meeting with separatist leaders in this regard.”
He said a senior Congress leader from Ladakh has also agreed to support the defence of Article 35-A in the Supreme Court
All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) chief Jagmohan Singh Raina, who has also submitted impleadement application before S,C said Article 35-A should be protected with all might as the identification and uniqueness of people of Jammu and Kashmir lies with it.
“I appeal people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to be united to defend Article 35-A. God forbid, if this Act is abolished, state will lose its special status which changes entire demographic and political setup of the state,” Raina added.
