BJP hits back at Abdullah over Article 35 A; asks if objecting to Panchayat Elections, why did he contest Kargil polls

A day after former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah threatened the BJP government of snubbing the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections over controversial Article 35 A and Article 370, BJP leader Ram Madhav on Sunday hit back, asking if he is objecting polls over 35 A issue then why did he contest Kargil polls.

In a veiled attack on the National Conference (NC) chief, Madhav further accused him of doing politics rather than making efforts to ensure democratic rights to the citizens of India.

"Farooq Abdullah has always done politics and never made efforts to ensure democratic rights of people. Now when Modi Ji is trying to do so he is speaking against it," the BJP General Secretary told ANI.

Farooq Abdullah has always done politics&never made efforts to ensure democratic rights of ppl. Now when Modi Ji is trying to do so he is speaking against it. If Farooq Abdullah is objecting to panchayat polls over 35A issue then why did he contest Kargil polls?: Ram Madhav, BJP pic.twitter.com/Qt9oKrjfZo

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2018

Read | Farooq Abdullah threatens to boycott Lok Sabha, assembly elections over Article 35-A

The National Conference, the oldest political party of Jammu and Kashmir has threatened to boycott the panchayat and urban local bodies (ULB) elections along with assembly and parliamentary polls if the Centre does not clear its stance regarding protection of Article 35-A and 370.

Article 35 A and 370, which have been facing legal challenges in the Supreme Court, special status to the people in Jammu and Kashmir, preventing non-locals from buying and owning any immovable property in the state. It was incorporated in the Constitution by a Presidential Order in 1954.

Meanwhile, there is an unrest in the Kashmir valley ever since a Delhi based NGO We the Citizens moved the court, claiming that Jammu and Kashmir's special status, granted by Article 35-A and Article 370 of the Constitution, discriminates against neighbouring citizens from across India.

Separatist group - the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) along with state bar association, transporters and traders' bodies have been staging agitation across the valley to protest against the government's alleged move to tamper with Article 35-A.

Read | Article 35-A: Supreme Court adjourns hearing; listed matter for January 2019

Several religious and social organisations have extended their support to the separatist protest to "safeguard" the constitutional provision.