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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]

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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw hails Tamil, says PM Modi wants every language to get its due respect

He began his speech with a traditional greeting of ‘Vanakkam’ and shared his limited knowledge of Tamil phrases, stating, “Tamil is a very, very sweet language… I know only three words: Vanakkam, Eppadi Irukeenga (How are you), and Nandri (Thank you).”

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Lauding Tamil as a “sweet” language, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Saturday, March 15, that it stands as a significant asset to both the nation and the world. At an event near Sriperumbudur, he emphasized the importance of all Indian languages, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently worked to ensure that every language receives the respect it deserves.

During the inauguration of Zetwerk Electronics’ manufacturing facility, Vaishnaw expressed his gratitude for having a professor named Sadagopan at IIT Kanpur, who introduced him to the richness of the Tamil language. He began his speech with a traditional greeting of ‘Vanakkam’ and shared his limited knowledge of Tamil phrases, stating, “Tamil is a very, very sweet language… I know only three words: Vanakkam, Eppadi Irukeenga (How are you), and Nandri (Thank you).”

He reflected on how Sadagopan enriched his understanding of Tamil culture, which he described as ancient and deeply rooted. “This is one of our country’s assets and also one of the world’s treasures. We should take pride in it and celebrate all Indian languages. This is the spirit that our Prime Minister embodies, ensuring that each language receives its rightful recognition and exposure,” he remarked.

To illustrate his point, Vaishnaw mentioned the Telecom and Data Protection Laws, highlighting the Prime Minister’s encouragement to offer legal notices in all Indian languages, not just in English. He reiterated the goal of fostering unity and understanding among diverse cultures and peoples within India.

“We must aim for a unified objective of strengthening our nation and striving to become the third largest economy,” he concluded, expressing his gratitude in Tamil with “rombha rombha nandri” (many, many thanks).

His remarks come in the context of ongoing language controversies in Tamil Nadu, where the ruling DMK party has accused the central government of enforcing Hindi through the National Education Policy, allegations that the Union government has refuted.

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Shiv Sena leader Mangat Rai murdered in Punjab: 3 arrested after brief shootout with police in Moga

In a bid to escape, Rai attempted to flee on his motorcycle, but the assailants pursued him and fired again, ultimately hitting him. Despite being rushed to a hospital by the police, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

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Punjab Police have arrested three individuals linked to the murder of Mangat Rai, the Moga district president of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, officials confirmed on Saturday. The suspects were apprehended following an exchange of gunfire with police in Malout, Muktsar district.

Rai, 52, was shot dead late on Thursday night while stepping out of his house to buy groceries. According to police, three unidentified assailants attacked Rai around 10 pm. The first bullet missed him but struck a 12-year-old boy who was caught in the line of fire. Rai attempted to flee the scene on his two-wheeler but was pursued by the attackers, who fired again, this time fatally injuring him.

Rai was rushed to a hospital by police, where he was declared dead. The injured boy is currently receiving medical treatment.

While investigators suspect the murder may be the result of a personal rivalry, Rai’s family has denied any enmity, stating that he had no conflicts with anyone.

The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the case, with police continuing to probe the motive behind the attack.

In a bid to escape, Rai attempted to flee on his motorcycle, but the assailants pursued him and fired again, ultimately hitting him. Despite being rushed to a hospital by the police, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Investigators are considering the possibility that the murder was the result of a personal rivalry; however, Rai’s family members have asserted that he had no known enemies. The police continue to gather evidence and investigate the circumstances surrounding this alarming incident.

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RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav asks on-duty cop to dance during Holi celebration, video goes viral

The video captures Yadav, smeared with colors, singing a song and instructing the policeman to dance. He is heard saying, “I will play a song, and you will have to dance. If you don’t, you will be suspended.”

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A video of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Tej Pratap Yadav, son of former Union Minister Lalu Yadav, has gone viral on social media, showing him pressuring an on-duty police officer to dance during Holi celebrations at his residence in Patna.

In the clip, Yadav is seen threatening the officer with suspension if he refused to dance, leading to widespread criticism from political opponents.

The video captures Yadav, smeared with colors, singing a song and instructing the policeman to dance. He is heard saying, “I will play a song, and you will have to dance. If you don’t, you will be suspended.”

Yadav further added, “Ek ganna bajayenge, usme tumko thumka lagana hai, bura mat mano Holi hai. Aaj nahi thumka lagaoge toh suspend kar diye jaoge” (We will play a song, and you will have to dance to it. Don’t feel bad, it’s Holi. If you don’t dance today, you will be suspended). The policeman eventually complies, dancing as Yadav sings.

The incident has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain condemning Yadav’s behavior. “He asked his bodyguard to dance; otherwise, he would suspend him. He has no power or authority to suspend anyone. This is Nitish Kumar’s government, not Jungle Raj. Using such language is unfortunate. RJD leaders have not evolved,” Hussain stated.

Janata Dal (United) (JDU) spokesperson Arvind Nishad also criticized Yadav, linking the incident to the past governance of Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi. “The order given by MLA Tej Pratap Yadav to the police personnel assigned to his security to dance while on duty is a reminder of the Lalu-Rabri regime. His threats and actions are inappropriate. The way Holi was celebrated during their rule and how he recreated that chaos truly brings back memories of those days. In today’s governance, it is unimaginable how someone can behave in such a manner,” Nishad remarked.

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