Owaisi urges Centre to act rationally over 35A

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday called upon the Narendra Modi government to act rationally over the issue of Article 35A, saying it is a very delicate issue.

Amid reports that the Centre is considering to scrap Article 35A which contains certain special provisions for Jammu and Kashmir, the Hyderabad MP advised the government not to lose cool but act rationally.

"We hope that Modi government will act rationally. Elections will come and go but there is need to act rationally and not to lose cool. This is a very delicate issue," Owaisi told reporters.

He said repeatedly it is being described as an issue of Muslims but claimed that even Hindus of Jammu would not like any tinkering with 35A.

"A BJP MLA has given a statement against this. Article 35A applies not just to Valley but to the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir," said All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President.

Owaisi said that if the Centre tinkers with 35A, it would send wrong message to Naga separatists with whom the government is holding talks.

"You talk of 35A and you are holding talks with Naga separatists. Under 371A, we have given special provisions to Nagas. Now that you are holding talks with separatists and if you tinker with 35A, what is the message you are giving to Nagas, who are not satisfied with special provisions they got under 371A?" Owaisi said.

"One thing which the entire country needs to understand when Article 370 was included in the Constitution who were members in the Constituency Assembly -- Sardar Patel, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Pundit Nehru. Article 370 has a permanent position in the Constitution," he added.

--IANS

ms/nir