NC, BJP lawmakers spar over Article 370, Pakistan’s role for peace
Jammu: A heated debate erupted between National Conference (NC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers over the abrogation of Article 370 and the role of Pakistan for peace in the region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the verbal exchange took place during a discussion in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Motion of Thanks on Lt Governor’s address. The NC members argued that the revocation of IIOJK’s special status had worsened the situation in the territory. They contended that dialogue, including with Pakistan, was must for peace in the region. BJP lawmakers, however, strongly opposed the idea.
As BJP MLA Surjit Singh Slathia, in his speech, said that abrogation of Article 370 has brought a new dawn of development in the occupied territory, National Conference members stood up from their seats and retorted that nothing was done on ground.
Mir Saifullah and others countered Slathia’s assertion while Vikram Randhawa and other BJP MLAs joined the verbal dual in support of their party colleague.
Nazir Gurezi of NC said that Slathia would also admit in private that abrogation of Article 370 has done nothing good for the IIOJK.
Ali Mohd Sagar, while participating in the discussion, said the BJP is misleading people in name of religion and added that whenever some positive initiatives for peace with Pakistan or “greater autonomy” to IIOJK were taken, the saffron party created hurdles.
He stressed the need to take Pakistan on board for peace in the region. He said th3e BJP is projecting a terrorist group raised in the name of Ikhwanis as their workers and supporters in Kashmir.
Dr Basheer Ahmad Veeri of National Conference, in his address, said that people gave mandate to NC for restoration of IIOJK’s rights, which were forcibly snatched from them in August 2019.
“MLAs from Jammu also admit in private that wrong was done by abrogating Article 370. Only those who switched side to RSS ideology are making more noise,” he said in an apparent reference to Slathia, who was earlier with National Conference.
Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir of NC said that public had given mandate to NC and Omar for restoration of statehood as well as dignity to IIOJK. Shamima Firdous of NC said that downgrading of IIOJK’s status was not a sudden decision but a well planned design to implement a specific agenda.
Waheed Para of PDP, while participating in the debate, urged the toothless Chief Minister to raise the issue of IIOJK’s youth lodged in jails. KMS-3
