Is Article 35A a solution in middle of turmoil in J&K: Congress

The Congress on Monday said it would laud Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is visiting Jammu and Kashmir "if he can achieve a solution", but wondered if Article 35A is a solution in the middle of "the delicate situation" in the state.

"I am reminded of (noted jurist) Nani Palkhivala, who once said that, when your house is on fire, you don't discuss whether you should convert your bed room into a drawing room or dining room into a kitchen. You first deal with the fire.

"At the moment, Kashmir is in a very delicate situation. I do not understand and know whether it is the right time, opportune moment to even talk about, leave aside the merits of an issue like this," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

"On all four parameters - civilians' causalities, cross border incidents, army deaths and terrorist incidents - Kashmir in three years has achieved the worst figures," he said.

"Kashmir was never an easy situation. In that scenario, if the Home Minister can achieve a solution, we would go out of our way to laud it, but is 35A solution in the middle of all this?" he asked.

"Is it going to create any joining, any consensus, convergence or is it going to create huge divergences when neither the state government and the central government are in sync," he added.

Rajnath Singh on Monday said the government will not do anything regarding Article 35A that would be against the aspirations and wishes of the Kashmiri people.

--IANS

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