Mehbooba Mufti Threatens To End Relationship With India Over Article 370

Former Cheif Minister Mehbooba Mufti has warned Delhi of ending its special relationship with India if Modi Government tampers with Article 370. Article 370 of the Indian constitution gives autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, discarding which the PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has given the warning to end J&K’s relation with India.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti jumped on the bandwagon to declare a poll boycott on Monday, saying that linking the local body polls with Article 35A has created serious conclusion among people in Kashmir.

She also warned that J&K’s relation with India would end if Article 35A was discarded. “The party has unanimously resolved to stay away from the urban and rural polls at this juncture,” Mehbooba said.

“We will continue our efforts to defend the special position of J&K in all circumstances. While the special position is a matter of survival for our people and society, the democratic system is the sustenance. Any attempt to impose an electoral exercise in this atmosphere of fear and apprehensions will seriously erode the credibility of the process and institutions, and will defeat its very purpose,” added Mehbooba.

The Raj Bhavan has announced four-phase urban and eight-phase local body polls to be held in October-December. The National Conference has already announced to go on strike on the urban and rural local body polls till the Centre clears its opinion on Article 35A.

Mehbooba asked the Governor to focus on confidence-building proposals so that the State is convinced of the stability of constitutional guarantees. “When we were in power, we had told the PM that if Article 35A was diluted on the pretext of women’s right or refugees, we will withdraw from the government,” she said. “For last 70 years, the people are sacrificing to get more rights. If this right is also snatched, it will not be tolerated,” she said.

The mainstream parties would find it tough to brace the Indian flag in the state if there was any fiddling with Article 35A, she said. “Our relation with India is because of Article 370. And if this law is scrapped, then this relationship will end,” asserted Mehbooba.

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