Article 370 already eroded: Geelani

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 5/30/2014 12:21:12 AM

‘Final settlement of Kashmir still pending’

SRINAGAR, May 29: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, today said that the Article 370 is only present in official papers and it has been eroded by New Delhi with the help of pro-India Kashmiri leaders.
He was commenting on the controversial statement of Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO over the Article 370 and reaction of National Conference and PDP thereafter.
In a statement, Hurriyat (G) chairman said, “however, the presence of this article in the Indian constitution is a proof that Jammu and Kashmir is not any UP or Punjab like state of India. Rather it is a disputed region and its final decision of settlement is still pending”.
“Actually, New Delhi wanted to finish it entirely so that they can make a large scale demographic change here and they want to change the Muslim majority of Jammu and Kashmir into the minorities. And for implementing their dangerous plan of grabbing our land on Israel pattern, they want to eliminate this last hurdle of their way,” Geelani said.
He cautioned that any attempt made to abrogate this documentary proof of Kashmiri disputed nature will be opposed tooth and nail. “If it happens then the freedom struggle will enter into a new era and whole nation will unanimously fight against the Indian occupation under a single banner and it will be a decisive phase of this movement,” Geelani said.
He termed the discussion on Article 370 as meaningless and wastage of time. Geelani said that if Indian government wants any discussion then they should discuss the pros and cons of lingering of Kashmir dispute and they should analyse what Indian people gained or lost in 67 years of “military occupation over Kashmir.”
Geelani said that the provision of Article 370 in Indian constitution has its own history and the room for the appointment of Prime Minister instead of Chief Minister and President instead of Governor and its own Supreme Court and Election Commission was kept because the Indian army was here to maintain peace and India was bound by its promise to withdraw its army from Kashmir after situation improves so that Kashmiris could be given a chance to decide their future independently.
He said that Article 370 was introduced to differentiate the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the other states of India till the final decision and it was promised that Kashmir will be an autonomous state except defence, external affairs and finance and it will not be recognized as part of Indian federal government unlike other states.
Geelani said that India backtracked from her promise and is still holding Kashmir merely by its military might. He said instead of discussing Article 370, Indian government and its people should discuss that have they conquered Kashmir after the long and hard 67 years?
While terming the reaction of PDP and National Conference over Article 370 as irrelevant and meaningless, Geelani said that these parties are doing this to cash this situation for the assembly elections. Otherwise, they have always helped New Delhi in erosion of this article.
He said that though Article 370 is now only a skeleton but even then it is a living proof of the disputed nature of the Kashmir and the new government of India is not only trying to eliminate this article, but they want to start the dangerous game of converting the majority of Jammu and Kashmir into a minority and capture the land.

 

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