PUF kick starts signature campaign to protect Articles 35A, 370
Srinagar:A veteran Kashmiri Pandit Ashok Karihuloo was the first to put his signature supporting Special status of the state including 35-A and 370 at an event at Srinagar on Wednesday organized by PUF, said the statement.
Er Rasheed, Javaid Mustafa Mir and Dr Shah Faesal addressing a press conference in Srinagar on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
Kick starting signature campaign seeking the protection of Article 35-A and 370 and asking BJP government at the Centre not to enforce any unconstitutional delimitation, PUF on Wednesday has warned Centre of serious consequences if it continues to play with the emotions and sentiments of people of J&K by dragging the state into controversial issues and debates.
Addressing a press conference today PUF leader and JKPM president Dr Shah Faesal thanked people of Jammu in general and members of Jammu BAR association in particular for showing their concerns over Article 35-A and 370.
Dr Shah Faesal warned Delhi of its misadventures and said that if Delhi is still keen for delimitation it must wait till assembly elections are over and let New Assembly take a call over the issue.
He said “Unity and integrity of state has to be protected at all costs and PUF is ready to support all such voices who believe in unity and integrity of the state. Delhi must respect all mutual agreements between the Union of India and J&K”.
Chairman co-ordination committee PUF Javid Mustafa Mir added that New Delhi should restrain from diluting the special status and the issue is not only about Kashmir but that of the entire state.
AIP President Er Rasheed during the press conference asked BJP to tell masses in India if the agenda of BJP is more important than that of Indian constitution.
Er Rasheed said, “The way people all over the state are showing their concern over Article 35-A and 370 it should be an eye-opener for BJP. No one is afraid of delimitation but by talking about discrimination with Jammu region, a wedge is being created between various regions and various communities without any logic, which is most unfortunate. If BJP has so much of lust of power, they must win hearts and minds of people, so that their mission +44 is achieved and no one can object to their being in power.”
Er Rasheed said that the signature campaign will be taken to every constituency and every village of the state as protecting the special status and preventing unauthorized delimitation is a priority for every citizen of the state.
Dr Shah Faesal appealed masses to support the signature campaign and said that the signature campaign is a most prompt and civilized way to tell people of India and rest of the world that what Kashmiris stand for. Er Rasheed added that PUF is always open for unity and we left no stone unturned to take NC, PDP and others into confidence to have a joint strategy for protecting the special status.
He added that PUF is still awaiting initiatives from NC to call all-party meet and reiterated that if NC and others are not interested in taking concrete measures, PUF will do whatever possible and required on its own to defend the special status and stop illegal delimitation of assembly constituencies.
He said that the perception about Jammu having less number of seats is wrong as during past thirty years Kashmiris have preferred not to enroll themselves as voters due to turmoil, thus some are under the assumption that Assembly segments in Kashmir have less number of votes as compared to Jammu region.
Er Rasheed condemned PDP members in Rajya Sabha for their abstention from voting on triple Talaq bill.
He said that triple talaq bill is simply infiltration in religious affairs and unacceptable. Rather claiming to be caring for Muslim women union government should focus on mob lynching. While one can little expect from parliamentarians of rest of India but the shameful abstention from voting over the bill by PDP members is unacceptable and exposes PDP’s real face. Er Rasheed while appealing for restraining at borders expressed deep concern over cross LOC shelling in Karnah and Uri areas and said that the life in border areas is becoming miserable. Later PUF office bearers from various constituencies kick-started the signature campaign and took the pledge that they will take the campaign to its logical end.
