news details |
|
|
| Let Apex Court decide about Article 35-A | | | It is for the first time that the mem
bers of the civil society of Jammu have expressed their views on the controversial Article 35-A which allows those from outside the state to be deprived of citizenship rights. It is under Article 35-A a woman wedding a non-state subject will lose her citizenship rights and those men who marry women from outside the state retain their citizenship rights. It is partial and needs to be either amended or abrogated. And those who have been residing in the state for the last over 60 years. Including refugees from Pakistan, have not been given citizenship rights. Members of the civil society of Jammu have expressed surprise over the 'dubious' stand taken by the ruling BJP on Article 35A. They have asked the saffron party to come clean on the Article and protect the rights of Dalits and women.
"The Article is depriving the weaker sections and women of their constitutional rights so its abrogation is must to ensure equality and justice in society," said Madhu Kishwar, eminent activist. She argued that the Article was contrary to the core principles of the Constitution. Social media activist Sonam Mahajan of Bangalore cautioned people against, what she alleged, a 'distorted narrative' created by supporters of the Article. 35-A
"We have to educate the masses about the dangerous consequences of Article 35A which is the biggest constitutional fraud," she observed. ' Ankur Sharma said: "Article 35A denied fundamental rights to West Pakistan refugees, Gorkhas and Valmikis living in Jammu." "The Union Government should immediately issue a Presidential Order to abrogate the Article," he said. He informed the gathering at the seminar that the intervention application filed by his organisation had been accepted by the Supreme Court.
Besides regional divide on the issue it has sever political dimensions with Kashmir centric politicians opposing any tampering with Article 35-A and those belonging to the region of Jammu voicing support for the abrogation of this Article. Well it is better not to comment on the plus and minus points of the Article 35-A because even after deferment of the issue by the Supreme Court another writ has been filed in the Apex court which has been accepted. Ultimately it has to be decided by the Supreme Court because political decision on the issue is not possible. And those demanding the centre should issue a Presidential notification for the abrogation of Article 35-A which could bring Kashmir valley in direct confrontation with the centre. And any presidential notification for abrogating Article 35-A may force the BJP to lose support in the valley. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
