Page 21 - Tehelka Issue 13 - July 15, 2018

presidential polls

Governor’s rule was imposed
in 1990 when Farooq
Abdullah had resigned as CM

“Dismissing governments and legitimizing the At the press conference following her resignation,
practice of horse trading ends up criminalizing the Mehbooba Mufti was quick to point this out. Among
electoral process and government formation,” she her achievements she touted the defence of the Arti-
says. “Governments that are hurriedly rustled up and cle 370 which gives J&K its special constitutional posi-
disconnected from the grassroots lack the foresight tion within Indian Union and also that of the Article
to pay attention to whether the legislation and ex- 35A, one of its critical features.
ecution of political, economic, and social policies and Should the BJP succeed in tampering with the pro-
programs in contemporary Kashmir is successfully visions, or somehow the court judgement goes on to
addressing women’s as well as men’s experiences dilute them, the party can again sell it as a major tri-
and concerns”. umph in the run up to the polls.
However, the possibility that a majority of the peo- But it could throw Kashmir into turmoil and lend
ple in the state are genuinely anxious about is fiddling an even greater rationale to separatist movement
with J&K’s special status. One law that is critical to this and the militancy.
status is the Article 35A which is currently being chal- “The break-up of the coalition has created a
lenged in the Supreme Court. The Article 35A which fraught scenario in J&K,” says Naseer. “The BJP would
was extended to the state through a 1954 Presidential be wise to remember that Kashmir is too sensitive a
Order gives protection to the state subject laws in J&K state to be messed with to win an election.”
whereby outsiders are not allowed to settle or acquire
property in the state. letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 july 2018 21 www.Tehelka.com

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