Arun Jaitley Slams Congress, NCP and PDP on Kashmir Issue in New Blog, Says ‘Article 35A Was Surreptitiously Included in Constitution in 1954’

New Delhi, March 28: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Arun Jaitley penned down another scathing blog on social media, criticising the Congress, National Conference and People’s Democratic Party for the current condition of Jammu and Kashmir. Jaitley in his blog reiterated his opinion on the abolishment of Article 35A and 370 – giving special powers to the Valley.

Alleging the previous governments at the Centre and the Valley for following ‘erroneous’ vision of former PM Jawaharlal Nehru, he said that Article 35A was surreptitiously included by a Presidential Notification in the Constitution in 1954 and due to this, people of the state are discriminated on the basis of resident status. Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme: Arun Jaitley Calls Rahul Gandhi's Rs 12,000 Income Promise A 'Bluff'.  

Jaitley wrote, “Article 35A was surreptitiously included by a Presidential Notification in the Constitution in 1954. It was neither a part of the original Constitution framed by the Constituent Assembly, nor did it come as a Constitutional Amendment under Article 368 of the Constitution which requires an approval by two-third majority of both Houses of Parliament. It came as a Presidential Notification and is a surreptitious executive insertion in the Constitution.”

Dual Citizenship status:

He went on to add that due to this insertion in the Constitution, people of the Valley are living a dual citizenship life. Not only they are being discriminated in government jobs, but cannot own property or get admitted to governmental institutions. Even the heirs of ladies marrying outside the State are disinherited from owning or inheriting property, Jaitley adds.

Stating Article 35A hurting people of J&K, Jaitley pointed that due to this special provision, ‘no investor is willing to set up an industry, hotel, private educational institutions or private hospitals since he can neither buy land or property nor can his executives do so’. Adding more, he said that ‘engineering colleges and hospitals set up by Central Government in Jammu are lying under-utilised or unutilised since Professors and Doctors from outside are unwilling to go there’.

Alleging the Article 35A has been used as a political shield, the BJP leader wrote, “Article 35A, which is constitutionally vulnerable, is used as a political shield by many but it hurt the common citizen of the State the most. It denied them a booming economy, economic activity and jobs.” Jaitley was of the opinion that Article 35A has prevented investment and dismantled the State’s economy. Income Tax Exemption Limit For Gratuity Hiked to Rs 20 Lakh, Arun Jaitley Says 'It Will Benefit PSU, Private Sector Employees'

Present Situation:

Expressing his opinion on the present situation, Jaitley stated that development in Valley has speeded up in the last six months and people are getting jobs, which were halted by previous ruling dispensation. He said, “Infrastructure projects, including the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation for both the cities of Jammu & Kashmir, the Ring Road for the two cities, AIIMS in both the regions, an IIT and an IIM in Srinagar and Jammu respectively are projects which have been resolved in the last few months and are progressing further.”

Adding more to the list, Jaitley said, “The State has become ‘open defecation free’ with hundred per cent sanitation. Every house has already been electrified. Several long pending projects in three regions have been cleared. Fifty new colleges in the State have been sanctioned and 232 schools upgraded. A new university has been established at Ladakh.”

Nab on Terrorism and Related Funding:

On terrorism and related funding, Jaitley pointed out that Jamaat-e-Islami and Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have been banned. Also, hundreds of activists and members have been arrested. Adding on, he wrote that the Income-tax Department has swung into action after seventeen years and discovered several sources of anti-national funding. Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP Extends Legal Aid to Banned Outfits Jamaat-e-Islami and JKLF. 

On the issue of stone pelting, he said in the last six months there has been no mass stone-throwing incidents, and the cases of domestic recruitment to the terrorist organisation have been reduced. Even the neutralisation of the largest number of militants was witnessed during this tenure. In short, Jaitley through his blog claimed, “The rule of law is being enforced in the Valley and is ensuring people a safe and peaceful life.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 28, 2019 04:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).