NC calls all-party meet on Art 35A

SRINAGAR: The National Conference (NC) on Thursday called an all-party meeting here to discuss the legal challenge to Article 35A and the political and security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

It comes a day after the state administration clarified that the panchayat and urban local body (ULB) elections will be held as per schedule, notwithstanding the boycott announced by the NC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The meeting was called by NC president Farooq Abdullah at his residence in Gupkar area of the city.

The NC president invited political leaders of various parties in the valley to discuss the legal challenge to Article 35A and political and security situation in the state, among other issues, party vice-president Omar Abdullah said.

"The NC president also wanted to listen to their views. He also told them the reasons for the party's boycott and took their views on what needs to be done in the future," he told reporters at a hurriedly called press conference.

Omar said the leaders who attended the meeting agreed that it was totally wrong on part of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India Tushar Mehta, who is representing Jammu and Kashmir in the Supreme Court, to accept that there is an aspect of gender discrimination in Article 35A.

The apex court is hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A, which grants special privileges and rights to the "permanent residents" of Jammu and Kashmir. "It was totally wrong that he (Mehta) went outside the brief given to him by the state government. He was not sent to the SC to talk about his personal views or about the opinion of any political party. He was not even a representative of the Centre," Omar said.

"As he (Mehta) went outside his brief, we have lost trust in him and all the leaders have demanded that Mehta be immediately pulled out of the case ...,” he added.