Do not dilute Article 35 (A): CPM

Amid tension in Jammu and Kashmir, the CPM on Monday asked the government to give a public commitment that it will not dilute the Article 35(A) of the Constitution that deals with permanent residents and their rights.

In a statement, the party Polit Bureau said the people of Kashmir valley and all shades of political opinion there are "highly perturbed" by reports of the efforts to do away with Article 35(A) of the Constitution.

"This has come in the context of the petitions being heard in the Supreme Court challenging the Constitutional provision and the fact that the Central Government has not made its position clear on the matter," it said.

Article 35A confers the power to the Jammu and Kashmir state legislature to define who are permanent residents and their rights.

"Any attempt to tamper with this provision will fundamentally damage the special status accorded to Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution," the CPM said.

"The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its strong opposition to the move to interfere with Article 35 (A). It calls upon the central government to make a public commitment that the Article will be retained intact in the Constitution," it added.

On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir administration had said its stance remained unchanged that only an elected government would be able to take a stand on Article 35A before the Supreme Court. It had said that it will seek deferment of the hearing in Supreme Court when it comes up for hearing.