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| PDP, BJP term it factually incorrect; Law deptt says religion no bar | | Kamaal's Muslim CM statement draws flak | | Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 31: The statement of National Conference Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal, "Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir guarantees that the head of state must be from the majority community", has evoked strong reaction from various political parties.
The former coalition partner of National Conference (NC) Indian National Congress (INC) has adopted a cryptic silence over the issue but the major political parties, including People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) have termed the statement incorrect and far from truth.
The PDP spokesperson Naem Akhtar termed the statement as totally incorrect and far from truth, besides he refused to comment over the rationale behind issuing such statements at this crucial juncture, when stalemate over government formation in JK is continuing.
Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) spokesperson Sunil Sethi said, "There is no provision in constitution, which debars any person on basis of religion or region to hold the post of Chief Minister or Governor."
Criticizing Mustafa Kamaal, he said that statement by a person like Mustafa Kamaal, who has no mandate anywhere, holds no relevance. "Kamaal may have given the statement to hoodwink Kashmiri people," he said.
Interestingly, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Saif-ud-Din Soz refused to comment, but said, "Ask Mustafa Kamaal's elder brother Farooq Abdullah or his nephew Omar Abdullah first. If they will give some statement, then only I will react," he said.
National Conference spokesperson Junaid Mattu didn't pick up the phone despite repeated attempts.
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) president Balwant Mankotia described the statement as a ploy to divide masses on religious lines. "It is just a ploy to divide masses on religious lines, but there is no line written in the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, which guarantees Chief Minister on religious lines", he said.
Secretary of Law department, Ashraf Mir said that there was no such statement in the constitution. "It has been written that the largest political party has the right to form the government and there is no line on base of religion or region", he said, adding that such statement was also contravention to the Article 14, which guarantees equality before law and Article 15, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, region, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Pertinently, Mustafa Kamaal, on December 28, had asserted that Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir guarantees that only a Muslim can become Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. "BJP demands that the Chief Minister must be from their party but there is no Muslim candidate elected on a BJP ticket", he had said. |
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