Omar cautions Centre ahead of Article 35A SC hearing

Srinagar :  Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday urged the central government to look at the situation in Arunachal Pradesh before trying to tinker with Article 35A.

Article 35A of the Constitution empowers the J&K legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to them.

Addressing party workers here, Omar said, “It is my duty to caution people about the situation in the state.”

“There is no militancy in Arunachal Pradesh but during the present unrest there, people didn’t even spare the house of the Deputy Chief Minister.

“I am not threatening the Centre. Please don’t hashtag me in television debates in the evening saying ‘Omar threatens India’. I only want to voice my understanding of the situation here, which is surcharged,” Abdullah said.

“Please leave the contentious issues for the elected government in the state that would have representation from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Your duty is to hold elections in the state and please address that issue as top priority,” he said.

Arunachal Pradesh witnessed widespread violence for three days, starting Friday, over the Joint High Power Committee’s (JHPC) recommendation granting permanent resident certificates (PRCs) to six communities, not natives of the state but living in Namsai and Changlang districts for decades.

The Arunachal Pradesh government on Sunday had to freeze its decision on PRCs that triggered the violence.

 Published on: Feb 25, 2019 at 21:02 IST

IANS