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With SC likely to pass verdict on J&K special status soon, Mehbooba Mufti drives to arch-rival Farooq for ‘guidance’

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Mehbooba Mufti

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the Supreme Court set to declare whether or not Article 35A that grants a special status to J&K among all Indian states should be quashed, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti stunned everyone by calling on National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah triggering rumours once again that all’s not well in her PDP-BJP coalition

In a move that has surprised political observers and common folk alike, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, on Tuesday evening, drove to the residence of her principal political rival in the state – National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah – instead of meeting senior leaders in her alliance partner, the BJP, to discuss the crisis over the legality of Article 35A that grants a special status to her strife-torn state.

Article 35A is a provision in the Indian Constitution which saved the ‘pre-existing State Subject Law’ of permanent residents of the state and their special rights and privileges. It was added through the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, issued under Article 370 in 1954. According to the law, there is a complete ban on the acquisition of immovable property by the non-permanent residents of the state, like in Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and some other states. The law defines permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir, confers on them the special rights and privileges and also imposes restrictions on non-residents acquiring any property in the state.

The prevailing crisis over the legality of Article 35A – the abrogation of which Mehbooba has repeatedly warned against claiming that if such a decision is taken “there will be no one left in Kashmir to hold the Indian flag” – began when two Kashmiri women approached the Supreme Court in 2014 seeking quashing of the special provision as it had “disenfranchised their children”. The apex court is likely to pronounce its verdict in the case next month.

Farooq Abdullah

What seems to have triggered Mehbooba to make the hitherto unthinkable journey to Farooq Abdullah for his counsel is the Union government’s recent submission in the Supreme Court during a hearing in the case.

On July 17, Attorney General KK Venugopal had told a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud that the petition against Article 35A raised “very sensitive” questions that required a “larger debate”, following which the court referred the matter to a three-judge Bench and set six weeks for final disposal.

Venugopal’s submission of the necessity of a ‘larger debate’ on the issue of abrogation of Article 370 was a departure from the stand that earlier governments – usually non-BJP – have taken on the sensitive subject as this was the first time that the Union was willing to put the matter up for a discussion instead of outrightly siding with the J&K government.

The Centre’s submission had immediately drawn criticism from political leaders of the National Conference and the Congress while Mehbooba had, in a belated reply, warned that any move to dilute Article 370 or quash it altogether would be the proverbial “last nail” in the Kashmir crisis and ensure that no Kashmiri ever holds the Indian tricolour.

That Venugopal naturally was communicating to the court the stand of the BJP government – a party with which Mehbooba is running an always-on-the-edge coalition in J&K – is the reason being ascribed to the PDP chief’s gesture towards her NC rival.

Abdullah has suggested to the chief minister that she should consult other parties with an aim to create a wider consensus among “like-minded parties in the battle to prevent Article 35A from being struck down in the Supreme Court.”

After her meeting with the NC president, Mehbooba said: “Dr Abdullah sahib is the senior most leader of our state and I went to him to seek his guidance and support on the issue of special status of our state which is under serious threat”.

“It (the case over Article 35A in SC) is a challenge for all political parties in J&K, who swear by J&K Constitution and the Constitution of India. There is hardly anything left in our special status and if Article 35(A) is tampered with, we will cease to exist,” Mehbooba added.

The NC president’s son and former chief minister Omar Abdullah – who on several earlier occasions has hit out at Mehbooba Mufti – said: “We cannot afford to have Article 35A remove… we believe that there is an urgent need to create a wider consensus among parties to fight this battle together,” after the PDP chief met Farooq Abdullah.

The Congress too came out in support of Mehbooba’s initiative with former union minister and senior poarty leader Saifuddin Soz asserting the same line as Mehbooba and Omar – of drawing a consensus on the legality of Article 35A and not repealing it.

With the threat of abrogation of Article 35A uniting the PDP, NC and Congress, political observers from the state wonder: Will the three parties along with other regional players who are anti-BJP come together to save the special status and state subject law. If developments in the Valley are any indicator, it is quite likely to happen as the anger against the mainstream political players is spreading like wildfire, especially in the past year that has seen prolonged widespread violence return to the region and an aggressive Indian Army willing to go to any extent to deal with civilians protesting on the streets.

Sources said Mehbooba had told her top party leaders that they should be ready for any eventuality if the article is struck down in the Supreme Court. That could well mean the end of the BJP-PDP alliance in the state.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Delhi elections: While voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, broken roads, says Rahul Gandhi

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday appealed to the Delhi voters to cast their votes responsibly and said that while voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, and broken roads in the capital.

As voting for the 70 Assembly seats kicked off earlier today, Gandhi took to X and said, “Every vote you give to Congress will protect your rights, strengthen the Constitution and put Delhi back on the path of progress.”

“While voting, remember who is responsible for polluted air, dirty water, broken roads. Who committed the biggest scam in Delhi while talking about doing clean politics?” he added.

Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, running against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, called on Delhi residents to vote in large numbers to safeguard their rights.

As polling continues until 6 PM, the election is proving to be a tense affair, with the three major parties—AAP, BJP, and Congress—making their cases for leadership in the national capital.

Earlier in the day, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal urged Delhi voters to recognize the crucial role of their votes in determining the city’s future. He stated, “Hooliganism will lose, and Delhi will win.”

In a message shared on X, Kejriwal emphasized, “Your vote is more than just a button; it is the cornerstone of a bright future for your children. It provides an opportunity for good schools, excellent healthcare, and a dignified life for every family.” His appeal coincided with the start of voting for the Delhi assembly elections.

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

In his appeal, Kejriwal stressed the moral and political importance of the election, urging citizens to favour “truth, development, and honesty” instead of “politics of lies, hatred, and fear.” He encouraged voters not only to cast their own votes but also to motivate friends, family, and neighbours to do the same.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi joined in the call for voter engagement, characterizing the election as a struggle between good and evil. “This is a contest between hard work and hooliganism,” she stated, motivating citizens to vote for progress and “goodness.”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva also appealed to voters, asking them to support his party’s vision of a “clean, well-governed, and prosperous” Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He urged citizens to vote for the BJP’s lotus symbol, highlighting the need to bolster the “double-engine government” for Delhi’s future development.

Polling is taking place at 13,766 stations across Delhi’s 70 assembly constituencies, determining the fate of 699 candidates, with results set to be announced on February 8.

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India News

Hooliganism will lose, Delhi will win: Arvind Kejriwal

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

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On Wednesday, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal urged Delhi voters to recognize the crucial role of their votes in determining the city’s future. He stated, “Hooliganism will lose, and Delhi will win.”

In a message shared on X, Kejriwal emphasized, “Your vote is more than just a button; it is the cornerstone of a bright future for your children. It provides an opportunity for good schools, excellent healthcare, and a dignified life for every family.” His appeal coincided with the start of voting for the Delhi assembly elections.

With around 1.56 crore registered voters, this election is under close scrutiny, as it has the potential to shape Delhi’s governance moving forward.

In his appeal, Kejriwal stressed the moral and political importance of the election, urging citizens to favour “truth, development, and honesty” instead of “politics of lies, hatred, and fear.” He encouraged voters not only to cast their own votes but also to motivate friends, family, and neighbours to do the same.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi joined in the call for voter engagement, characterizing the election as a struggle between good and evil. “This is a contest between hard work and hooliganism,” she stated, motivating citizens to vote for progress and “goodness.”

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva also appealed to voters, asking them to support his party’s vision of a “clean, well-governed, and prosperous” Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He urged citizens to vote for the BJP’s lotus symbol, highlighting the need to bolster the “double-engine government” for Delhi’s future development.

Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, running against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, called on Delhi residents to vote in large numbers to safeguard their rights.

As polling continues until 6 PM, the election is proving to be a tense affair, with the three major parties—AAP, BJP, and Congress—making their cases for leadership in the national capital.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X to say, “Every vote for Congress will protect your rights, strengthen the Constitution, and set Delhi back on the path of progress.” He added, “While voting, remember who is accountable for polluted air, dirty water, and broken roads. Who perpetrated the biggest scam in Delhi while claiming to advocate clean politics?”

Polling is taking place at 13,766 stations across Delhi’s 70 assembly constituencies, determining the fate of 699 candidates, with results set to be announced on February 8.

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India News

Delhi elections: President Murmu, Rahul Gandhi, CM Atishi cast votes

Polling began at 7 a.m. across 13,766 stations in the national capital, with 1.56 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 699 candidates contesting across 70 assembly constituencies.

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Voting for the Delhi Assembly elections commenced on Wednesday, with prominent political leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Union Ministers S. Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, among the early voters.

Polling began at 7 a.m. across 13,766 stations in the national capital, with 1.56 crore eligible voters set to decide the fate of 699 candidates contesting across 70 assembly constituencies.

Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, and Chief Electoral Officer R. Alice Vaz were also among the early voters.

After casting his vote, LG Saxena described the election as a “festival of democracy” and urged all Delhi residents to participate actively. “Today is a day of duty, not a holiday,” he emphasized.

Union Minister S. Jaishankar, who voted early, remarked, “I have always been an early voter, a Delhi voter. The people are in a mood of change.”

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, the AAP candidate from Kalkaji, visited the Kalkaji temple to offer prayers before casting her vote. She framed the election as a “battle between good and evil, between work and hooliganism.”

Manish Sisodia, AAP candidate from Jangpura, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “I have cast my vote for a better Delhi and for a better life for its people. I appeal to voters to support better education, healthcare, and other essential facilities.”

The Delhi Assembly election witnessed a triangular contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress. While the AAP is aiming for a third consecutive term, the BJP and Congress are striving to regain their foothold in the capital.

Prominent candidates, including AAP’s Greater Kailash nominee Saurabh Bharadwaj, BJP’s Karawal Nagar candidate Kapil Mishra, and Congress’ New Delhi candidate Sandeep Dikshit, were among those who exercised their franchise early in the day.

With polling underway across the city, authorities have ensured tight security and smooth arrangements at all voting stations. The election results are scheduled to be announced on February 8, 2024.

As Delhiites turn out in large numbers to cast their votes, the election is being seen as a crucial test for the political parties vying for control of the capital. The outcome will not only shape Delhi’s future but also set the tone for the upcoming national elections.

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