Cong committed to protect special status of J-K: Soz

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Saifuddin Soz today said his party is committed to protect the special status of the state under the Article 370 of the constitution of India.
"The Congress Party is duty-bound to safeguard the internal autonomy of the people of the Jammu and Kashmir as enshrined in the Constitution of India in the form of Article 370," Soz, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, said addressing a party convention at Budgam, 15 kms from here.
He emphasised that this Article will ever remain as an integral part of the Constitution of India.
Referring to ruling coalition partner National Conference's demand for restoration of autonomy to the state, Soz said the people who want enlargement of the autonomy must understand that a discussion on such a proposition is possible and the Congress Party has remained in the fore-front in ensuring such a dialogue and discussion.

Article 370 of the Indian constitution grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir.
This article specifies that except for Defence, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Communications,(matters specified in the instrument of accession), the Parliament needs the state government's concurrence for applying all other laws.
Soz also claimed the JKPCC was dead-set on ensuring empowerment of Sarpanchs and Panchs by incorporating the provisions of the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India into the Panchayat Act of the state.