Article 370 can be abolished anytime: Subramanian Swamy

Jammu, Oct 23: Vouching for permanent resettlement of displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir, former Union Ministerand president Janta Party Subramanian Swamy on Sunday announced that 10 lakh armed ex-servicemen will be sent to the Valley prior to return of KPs for ensuing their safety.  

  “There is no need to be defensive and we need to be clear in our mind. We will send 10 lakh ex-servicemen (double than displaced KPs) equipped with weapons from different parts of the Country to Kashmir for ensuring the safety of the KPs. They will be paid money and will be asked to settle there,” Swamy said.

 Swamy was speaking at a function organised by Jammu Kashmir Peoples Forum (JKPF) to commemorate 64th year of “J&K’sAccession with India.”

 Swamy said there were one crore ex-servicemen “sitting idle at their homes” and they were waiting for an opportunity to serve the Country. “Why should we demand Panun Kashmir (separate homeland) if the entire Kashmir could be Panun Kashmir?” he asked.

 

He also described the Article 370 as a “temporary provision” and said it could be abolished at any point of time by the President through an Ordinance. “For this, we need a strong Government at the Centre and it is surely going to happen in near future,” he said. Come what may, India will never leave Kashmir since the instrument of accession was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh with Indian Government was full and final,” he said. 

 “We have historic past in Kashmir, many shrines and religious places are there. After the accession of J&K, the statements of Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mountbatten hold no weightage.”

 Taking a dig at the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his statement on revocation of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), Swamy said he (Omar) had no right to speak on such sensitive issues. “And if any attempt was made by him (Omar) to repeal the law from J&K, he should be dismissed and the President’s rule should be imposed forthwith.

 He also castigated the statement of lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan saying “there is no place for referendum on Kashmir in the Indian constitution as India possesses all rights on J&K’s each and every inch of land”.

 Swamy also opposed any dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir issue, terming the problem as “internal matter” of India. He also expressed concern over growing “Talibanization” in Pakistan saying  “relationship between Taliban and Pakistan army is a sign of great danger to Indian union.” 

 “It is sure that the Pakistan Army will rule the country as the Army commanders are able to topple any democratic government there. There are eighty percent army officers, who are likely to be next army commanders in Pakistan, belong to Taliban. The situation itself becomes worrying in view of ISI and Taliban continuous support to Pakistan Army,” he said.

 Pertinently Swamy was Union Cabinet Minister for Commerce and Law in 1990-91. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently stated that Swamy was the first to envisage and articulate the need for reforms in the Country.

 Earlier, leaders of various political parties, including BJP MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma, JKNPP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, JSM MLA Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Congress leader Abdul Gani Kohli and JKPF convenor Ramesh Sabherwal also spoke on the occasion.

Source : Greaterkashmir