Clarifying that the National Conference and other parties are not running an election boycott campaign, the NC vice-president Omar Abdullah Thursday said that the government should seek deferment of the case on Article 35A till the Assembly elections were held in the state and a democratically elected government is in place in the state.
“We have never said to boycott elections nor are we running an election boycott campaign. The NC core group has decided that our party will not participate in these elections unless and until Government of India and the state government clear their position on Art 35 A and take effective steps for its protection in and outside the Courts.”
Advertisement
He said if the state government wants to go ahead with the election, it’s their decision. “We cannot stop it. The fact that two major regional political parties, with three former chief ministers, are not participating in these elections and if GoI thinks they can go ahead with elections then they are free to do it. If anyone wants to contest they are free to do so,” said Omar.
Omar was briefing the media about the meeting chaired by National Conference President Farooq Abdullah Thursday at his Gupkar residence in Srinagar. In the meeting Omar, senior Congress leader Taj Mohiuddin, CPIM leader Mohd Yousuf Tarigami, DPN President Gh Hassan Mir were also present.
Advertisement
Omar said: “In the meeting, threadbare discussions were held on the state’s current political and security scenario. Dr Farooq Abdullah apprised the leadership from other political parties about NC’s stand on Art 35 A, ULB and Panchayat polls and its decision of staying away from these elections. They also spoke at length about issues confronting the state and gave their valuable feedback to our party president.”
“Two important issues were raised in the meeting and were subsequently agreed upon by all. Most important was the issue of Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, employed by the state to defend Art 35 A in the SC. It was unanimously resolved that the ASG, who was supposed to represent state government, exceeded his brief while defending Art 35 A in the SC and violated the trust reposed on him. He was not representing any political party nor was he the representative of Government of India. He was supposed to confine his arguments as per the directions from the state government which he clearly violated. Thereby we don’t trust the ASG anymore and the leaders in the meeting resolved that the state government immediately asks him to stand down. The state government, therefore, must handover the case to the councils who will put forth the arguments of the state and not of any individual or party to defend Article 35 A in the SC,” Omar said.
Omar said it is not only NC which is asking for central government clarification on Art 35 A, others are also demanding it. “But till date nothing is coming out from the government. Under such circumstances we would request the central government to defer the hearing on Art 35 A on January 09 2019 till a democratically elected government is in place in the state. It’s their job then to protect and safeguard Art 35 A in the SC.”
Omar said it is the government which connected the two by putting up an argument in the SC wherein it asked for deferment of the case on Art 35 A citing the upcoming Urban Local Bodies and panchayat polls.
