Centre linking Article 35A with J&K panchayat and ULB polls 'disastrous idea': Mehbooba Mufti

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday termed Narendra Modi government’s plea in the Supreme Court to defer the hearing on Article 35A, citing upcoming panchayat and urban bodies elections, was “disastrous idea”, which will further complicate the situation on the ground.

“The central government’s plea in Supreme Court to link decision on 35A with panchayat and urban bodies elections, was a disastrous idea, which has further alienated the people and complicated the situation on ground,” Mufti wrote on Twitter.

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The PDP chief’s statement came after the central government’s requested the apex court to defer the hearing on several pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Article 35A of the constitution, saying it could trigger unrest and affect the local body elections scheduled to be held by the end of 2018.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party has also decided to boycott the upcoming panchayat and urban bodies elections in the state unless the central and state governments clarify their stand on Article 35-A.

“The core group (of NC) unanimously decided that the National Conference will not participate in these elections unless and until the government of India and the state government clarify their positions in this regard and take effective steps for protection of Article 35-A in and outside the courts,” NC chief Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday.

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On August 30, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had announced that the urban bodies elections in the state will be conducted in four phases between October 1, 2018, and October 5, 2018. And the panchayat elections will be conducted in eight phases between November 8, 2018, and December 4, 2018.