NC submits memo to J&K governor regarding legal challenge to Article 35A

An 11-member delegation of the National Conference (NC) called on Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra here today and put forth the party's concerns over the legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution which relates to special rights and privileges of permanent residents of the state.

The delegation was led by NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, an official spokesman said.

The delegates appreciated the decisions taken by the governor to streamline the administration after the imposition of Governor's Rule and raised issues relating to the security concerns of the party on account of militant attacks on its leaders and workers, as well as the growing menace of drugs among youths and the downturn in the tourism and handicrafts sectors, he said.

The official said the NC leaders raised developmental issues of Srinagar city, particularly the urgent need for conservation of the Dal lake, problems of Kargil district, including unlawful constructions, encroachments on public land, and the need to ensure timely completion of the Zojila tunnel.

The delegation also thanked Governor Vohra for his decision to conduct the long overdue elections to the urban local bodies and panchayats, he said.

He added that the governor urged Sagar and his party members to raise awareness among people about the importance of the forthcoming elections in the state.

The governor assured the delegation that he would schedule a visit to Kargil to discuss and settle all outstanding problems of the district, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, an NC spokesman, in a statement here, said the party submitted a memorandum to the governor, highlighting the need to follow the Article 35A case in the Supreme Court vigorously.

"Jammu and Kashmir National Conference wants to register its grave concern and deep anguish over the way (previous) BJP-PDP coalition government handled the case in the Supreme Court regarding Article 35A of the Indian constitution. Till date, no counter affidavit has been filed in the apex court either by the central government or the state government, the memorandum said.

The memorandum said, "It is amply clear that the case has been filed by some RSS activists of the BJP, to which the PDP, as an ally, has slept over."