PDP leader resigns from party, says Article 370 was 'dead stock'

Senior PDP leader Shah Mohammad Tantray has resigned from the primary membership of the party, citing his unhappiness with it over "unnecessary expulsions" of leaders for meeting Lt Governor G C Murmu here.

The 64-year-old leader, who was elected to the state assembly on a PDP ticket from the Poonch-Haveli seat in 2014, said Article 370 had become a "dead stock" as a result of nearly three dozen amendments during the Congress rule.

The Centre abrogated Article 370 provisions giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the erstwhile state into union territories in August last year.

On January 9, the PDP expelled eight party leaders -- Dilawar Mir, Rafi Ahmad Mir, Zaffar Iqbal, Abdul Majeed Padroo, Raja Manzoor Khan, Javaid Hussain Baig, Qamar Hussain, Abdul Rahim Rather besides Tantray -- two days after they met the Lt Governor under the leadership of former party leader Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari.

The PDP had said, "In view of the development post August 5 and the unilateral move of the government of India which has violated the will and hurt the sentiments of people, it has come to the attention of the party that certain party leaders have been part of the parleys which go against the interests of the state, official position and core beliefs of the party.

"The party disciplinary committee has recommended the expulsion of all these leaders from the basic membership of the party."