Srinagar: In a significant legal development, Mohammad Siddiq Khan, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former President of the BJP Minority Wing in Jammu & Kashmir, has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India in favor of the central government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A.
Khan, who also serves as the Chairman of the Breng Research Institute of Education and Social Work, a prominent NGO, made headlines as he became the first Muslim leader within the BJP to openly support the government’s move back in 2019 when Article 370 and Article 35A were revoked under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing the media in Jammu on September 6, 2023, Khan passionately expressed his support for the government’s decision. During the ongoing Supreme Court trial, which has seen opposition from certain regional parties, Khan took the opportunity to criticize the Congress party for its role in introducing these special provisions in Jammu & Kashmir, only to later see them dismantled.
Khan argued that the special status accorded to the region had inadvertently contributed to a rise in terrorism, with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, allegedly supporting extremist activities in the region. He lamented the loss of lives, the closure of educational institutions, and the devastation of the local economy.
Khan pointed out that after the revocation of Article 370 and Article 35A on August 5, 2019, Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a return to normalcy. Extremist and separatist elements were neutralized, and incidents of stone-pelting and daily strikes (Hartals) significantly decreased. The tourism industry flourished, culminating in the historic hosting of the G20 International Economic Forum in Kashmir, a first in the region’s history.
He emphasized that the people of Jammu & Kashmir were now enjoying a peaceful and dignified life, free from the turmoil that had plagued the region for years. Khan urged the Supreme Court to consider the well-being of the nation and uphold the government’s decision to revoke Article 370 and Article 35A.
In closing, Khan commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership, describing him as dynamic and capable, and called on the Hon’ble Supreme Court to recognize and endorse the government’s historic decision in the interest of the nation’s sovereignty.
