BJP challenges PDP, NC for open debate

JAMMU: The BJP on Saturday asked Kashmir-centric parties like the NC and PDP to stop politics and misinformation campaign on Article 35A.

Addressing mediapersons, state BJP’S chief spokesperson advocate Sunil Sethi dared political parties from Kashmir to an open debate over the ‘contentious’ Article which confers special status to permanent residents of the state.

The apex court Supreme Court is hearing a string of petitions in the matter, including the one filed by two Kashmiri women, West Pakistan refugees and members of Valmiki community, seeking quashing of the Article, which has deprived them of their rights.

He said over the last few days, the political climate in the state has heated up over Article 35A and some political parties, especially those active in Kashmir, have taken an "anti-national and anti-people" stand on the issue.

He said in last 70 years, the state could not progress as this Article has blocked all types of investments from outside.

Sethi also attacked the NC MLA Devender Singh Rana for his statement that the laws were framed by Maharaja Hari Singh.

“Maharaja framed state subject laws to stop Britishers from buying property here. But after the accession of the state, our state became a unified part of single nation and now we are “India”, he said.