Jammu, Mar 4: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sham Lal Sharma Tuesday reminded the ruling alliance of the statement of NC patriarch Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah about Article 370 in the 1981 budget session.
“While responding to a resolution moved by one of the Congress MLAs Dharam Pal Sharma, he (Sheikh) stated that Article 370 as a temporary provision had lost its potency,” Sham Sharma said while participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s Address.
He took a mild dig at the ruling alliance members and other opposition members from Kashmir for, what he said, “playing to the gallery by talking of restoration of Article 370 and 35 A.”
“Article 370 has not been excluded; only its bad provisions have been excluded,” he said.
BJP MLA also took exception to the statement of Congress MLA G A Mir that abrogation was done in an “illegal and unconstitutional manner.”
“August 5 developments were unanimously passed by the Parliament. But tell me, how did Article 35 A come into being?” he questioned, the poser was aimed at Congress MLA G A Mir.
Mir, while participating in the debate, had criticized the BJP-led central government for abrogating Article 370 and 35 A in an “illegal and unconstitutional manner.”
He also took a dig at BJP leadership for not keeping its word vis-à-vis restoration of statehood to J&K.
Earlier, NC MLA and Chief Whip Mubarak Gul initiated the debate and reiterated the demand for restoration of statehood. He criticized the move to abolish the Darbar Move.
While referring to the PM’s quote about “Dil Ki Doori…”, Gul said, “People of J&K want dignity.”
NC MLA Sajjad Shaheen called for health, road and education facilities in his constituency.
NC MLA Farooq Ahmad Shah batted for policies for sustainable tourism in Gulmarg, industrial growth and employment avenues for youth.
Independent MLA Bani, Rameshwar Singh, in a strong dig at BJP, said that J&K after becoming UT lost its identity and resources. He called for stringent action against the drug mafia.
The way he took on BJP MLAs, he earned a special pat from the Chief Minister following his address.
