Srinagar: Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary (Org.), Ashok Kaul Wednesday claimed that Dr BR Ambedkar had out-rightly turned down Sheikh Abdullah’s proposal for a special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and a separate constitution for it.
Kaul said Ambedkar not only rejected the proposal but also asked Sheikh not to think any sort of ‘modification’ in the Indian Constitution. He said the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru later agreed to for J&K’s special status under Article 370, which then also became part of the Constitution.
“When Sheikh Sahab met BR Ambedkar and sought amendment in the constitution in shape of Article 370, Baba Sahab outrightly turned down his proposal saying it’s not feasible,” Kaul told reporters on the sidelines of a function organized on Ambedkar’s 130th birth anniversary at BJP head-office here.
Kaul said the Article 370 became part of the Indian Constitution later after the then Prime Minister Nehru agreed to Sheikh’s proposal.
The BJP leader also said it was Mahatma Gandhi who had recommended BR Ambedkar as the Chairman of the Draft Constitution Committee or else a foreigner was earlier assigned for drafting Indian constitution.
“We cannot forget BR Amdbekar’s contribution as politician and social reformer. Baba Sahab Ambedkar was recommended by father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi as the Chairman of the Draft Constitution Committee of India or else Pandit Nehru had assigned a foreigner for the job,” Kaul added.
