J&K NPP leader Bhim Singh called for abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, which he blamed for creating the present condition in the hill state, and said he’s willing to go to the United Nations to fully integrate the state in India.
He said Article 370, which gives special status to Jammu & Kashmir, was at the root of most of the problems in the hill state.
“Those in Jammu and Kashmir who do not stand by the Indian Constitution cannot be blamed, because the Parliament of India has kept Jammu and Kashmir out of the scope and jurisdiction of the Constitution of India,” said Singh, who used to be a prominent Congress Party leader in the state.
He said the Article gives the President of India the right to amend it.
“Article 370 has guaranteed powers to the President of India which were enjoyed by the Viceroy of India before January 26, 1950. The President of India shall use his power within the meaning and scope of Article 370 which has itself become outdated, undesirable and unacceptable,” Singh, who currently heads the National Panthers Party of J&K, said.
“Parliament of India has full authority and competence to amend Article 370 by a simple majority because Article 370 is a temporary provision… The state acceded to the Union like other 577 states in the Union of India and were merged in the Union.”
He blamed successive governments at the center for keeping the temporary legal provision alive, instead of removing it.
“Its long survival for 70 years (is) thanks to the successive Parliament of India who are responsible for the present state affairs in the country.”
Bhim Singh said that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has crossed all the limits defined in the Constitution and called for the dismissal of the PDP-BJP government in the state, which has seen incidents of violence for several weeks.