Amid Article 35A uncertainty in Valley, BJP summons party’s core group from J-K to Delhi

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has summoned members of the party’s core group from Jammu and Kashmir for an ‘urgent meeting’ in Delhi on Tuesday. This has added to the uncertainty in Valley after Centre moved additional 10,000 troops to the state. There are reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with party chief Amit Shah is going to attend a meeting.

The sources said Union minister Jitendra Singh, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and its state unit president Ravinder Raina and other senior leaders from the state will attend the meeting besides the party's national working president JP Nadda.

A day after National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval returned from a visit to the Valley, rumours are rife in Valley that Centre is going to scrap Articles 370 and 35A. Politicians in Kashmir are further fuelling the speculations.  Former CM Omar Abdullah tweeted: “It’s surprising to say the least that instead of calming tempers and reassuring people in the Valley, a large section of the administration is busy trying to scare people to expect massive unrest and trouble after August 15.” 

PDP chief, Mehbooba Mufti said they would fight till death any attempt to tinker with the state's special status. "We want to tell the Central government that tinkering with Article 35A will be akin to setting a powder keg on fire," she said. "If any hand tries to touch Article 35A, not only that hand, but that whole body will be burnt to ashes."

Former IAS officer-turned-politician also wrote on Twitter, "This MHA communique regarding deployment of additional 100 Coys of CAPF is fueling huge anxiety in Kashmir (sic)."

However, there are reports that the Election Commission would take a decision on holding Assembly elections in the state after August 15. “The likely presence of PM Modi and Shah in the meeting is significant and hints at the party gearing up for the state assembly elections, whose schedule will be finalised by the Election Commission after it receives a go-ahead from the central and state governments on law and order situation,” according to media report.

Earlier, Madhav, who is the party's pointsman for Jammu and Kashmir, had urged the Election Commission to hold polls in the state this year. The state BJP has asserted that it is ready for elections anytime, with its general secretary Narinder Singh saying that there is still enough time left for the EC to hold polls this year.

In 2014, the state polls were held in November-December. Jammu and Kashmir is currently under President's Rule. It was extended for one more term of six months beginning July 3.