J&K govt allowing step-by-step erosion of Art 370, says Omar

After the Supreme Court held that Jammu and Kashmir has “no vestige” of sovereignty outside Indian Constitution and its own statute which is subordinate, Omar Abdullah on Sunday hit out at PDP-led government saying its “weak” legal defence of state’s special status was “alarming” as it was allowing “step-by-step erosion” of Article 370.

Asking the state government to come clean on the issue, the NC leader targeted the PDP, alleging that it seems it has decided to facilitate the "long-cherished desire" of its alliance partner BJP "to circumvent and subvert the Constitution of the state" and attributes of Article 370.

“The state government’s weak legal defence of various sensitive attributes of the state’s special status is alarming. The deliberate callousness shown by the state government indicated the tacit connivance of PDP in allowing the step-by-step erosion of Article 370 through a series of politically patronized cases and litigation,” the former CM said.

“The PDP-BJP Government should come clean on its stand on this vital issue that could have far reaching implications for the State,” he said. The opposition National Conference working president said the state government’s counsel in the Supreme Court has made it evident that the state government prima facie “does not oppose” the application of the SARFAESI Act in Jammu and Kashmir.

“This has far reaching implications as the application of the SARFAESI Act to J&K was debatable in the context of Article 370 of the Constitution of India as also the provisions of the J&K Transfer of Property Act,” Omar said.