Any hand that tries to touch Article 35A will burn to ashes: Mehbooba Mufti

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti warned the Centre on Sunday against the revocation of Article 35A. Addressing a function here to celebrate the Peoples Democratic Party’s 20^th raising day, Mufti asked her party workers to get ready for a big fight for the protection of Article 35A, which gives special rights and privileges to the state’s permanent residents.

“We want to tell the Central government that tinkering with Article 35A will be akin to setting a powder keg on fire,” the PDP president said. “If any hand tries to touch Article 35A, not only that hand, but that whole body will be burnt to ashes.”

Mufti said they would fight till death any attempt to tinker with the state’s special status.

Days after National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval returned from two-day visit to the valley, Centre decided to move over 10,000 troops to Jammu and Kashmir. Top government sources to news agency ANI have said, there are Inputs about a major terrorist attack being planned by Pakistan-based terrorist groups in Kashmir valley. This was Doval’s first visit to Kashmir after Narendra Modi-led BJP government returned to power for the second term in May. 

“NSA Ajit Doval had held a meeting of counter-terrorism grid in Jammu and Kashmir in view of this major terrorist attack threat in the Kashmir valley. The decision to deploy the troops is to further strengthen the counter terrorist grid in the state,” ANI reported.

Recently, around 40,000 additional central paramilitary forces were brought in for Amarnath Yatra security. The Centre decided to deploy about central paramilitary and state police personnel to secure the 46-day yatra that began from July 1 from the twin route -- traditional Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and shortest Baltal track in Ganderbal district. It will conclude on August 15, the day Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated in the country.