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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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9 years ago

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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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PM Modi takes aim at critics with Dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC centenary address

PM Modi revived his dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC’s centenary celebrations and spoke about India’s development journey.

Published

8 hours ago

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September 6, 2026

By

PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark while addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi on Saturday, using the term to criticise his opponents.

Speaking to students at the Delhi college, PM Modi described the phrase as a “homeopathic pill” and said it had prompted those he described as “dimagi Naxals” to come forward and reveal their views.

The prime minister also used his address to speak to Gen-Z about India’s development journey and asked students to consider the challenges the country had faced in the past.

PM Modi recalls past crises

During his speech, PM Modi referred to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the 2008 global financial crisis while criticising the handling of national emergencies by previous governments.

He said the government at the time of the Kedarnath disaster was shaken and questioned its ability to respond to the crisis.

Referring to the 2008 banking crisis, PM Modi alleged that the government of the time failed to effectively deal with the situation and claimed that India’s banking system was pushed close to collapse.

Prime minister lists challenges faced by his government

PM Modi also highlighted several major global crises that occurred during his government’s tenure.

He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global trade and supply chains, and the crisis in West Asia.

The prime minister said there had been concerns that India would struggle during these crises but argued that the country had continued to move forward.

PM Modi’s earlier SRCC visit

PM Modi had earlier visited SRCC in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. His speech at the college received significant attention, particularly on social media, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

His latest visit came during the college’s centenary celebrations, where his address focused on young people, India’s development ambitions and the challenges faced by the country.

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India Metro Rail Network May Overtake US in 2 Years

India’s metro rail network has reached 1,170 km across 26 cities. Union minister Manohar Lal said the country could overtake the US in network length within two years.

Published

22 hours ago

on

September 5, 2026

By

Manohar Lal Khattar

India is on track to become the country with the second-largest metro rail network in the world after China, with Union Minister Manohar Lal saying the country could overtake the United States within the next two years.

India’s metro rail network has now expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities. The network is only 216 km shorter than the US metro rail network, which stands at 1,386 km, according to figures cited by the minister.

India’s metro network expands rapidly

Speaking after the inauguration of an extended metro service in Indore, Manohar Lal highlighted the pace at which metro connectivity has grown in India.

He said metro services were operational across just 245 km in five cities when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The network has since expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities.

The minister said India could overtake the US in terms of metro rail network length in the next two years and become the world’s second-largest country in this segment after China.

China currently has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines, according to the figures cited by the minister.

Indore metro extension inaugurated

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating an extended section of the Indore metro. The project was built at a cost of around Rs 2,850 crore.

The Indore metro was earlier operating commercially on a six-km stretch between Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. Following the extension, the service will operate on a 17-km route between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the metro service would mark a new phase in Indore’s development. He also said the network would eventually be extended to Ujjain and other nearby areas.

India’s metro rail network: Key figures

  • India currently has 1,170 km of operational metro rail network.
  • Metro services are operational across 26 cities.
  • The US has around 1,386 km of metro rail network.
  • India is currently 216 km behind the US.
  • China has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines.
  • India’s operational network stood at 245 km across five cities in 2014.

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India News

PM Modi returns to SRCC after 13 years, revisits 2013 glass full speech

PM Narendra Modi returned to SRCC after 13 years for its centenary celebrations, revisiting themes from his landmark 2013 address.

Published

23 hours ago

on

September 5, 2026

By

PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) on Saturday, 13 years after his previous visit to the institution as Gujarat chief minister. 

His latest visit came as SRCC marked its centenary celebrations. Modi’s 2013 address at the college had attracted significant attention as he spoke about India’s youth, governance and the country’s demographic potential.

In 2013, Modi was Gujarat chief minister and had not yet been named the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. He returned to the same campus this year as Prime Minister, having completed 12 years as Prime Minister and serving his third consecutive term. 

What PM Modi said at SRCC in 2013

The 2013 lecture was titled Emerging Business Models in the Global Scenario. The address also covered governance and India’s young population.

He described India’s youth as a source of national strength rather than simply a group of new-age voters. He also highlighted India’s demographic advantage and argued that the country needed to make better use of its young population.

One of the notable moments from the speech involved a glass of water.  Modi contrasted the conventional descriptions of a glass as half full or half empty and said he viewed it as full, with half containing water and the other half air.

The speech also included his remarks on technology and young Indians. Referring to an anecdote from a visit to Taiwan, Modi used the phrase “mouse-charmers” to describe Indians using computers and suggested that young Indians had the ability to influence the world through technology.

‘Minimum government, maximum governance’

Modi’s 2013 address also touched on governance. He spoke about the role of government and the need for better governance.

He also spoke about India’s potential in the 21st century. 

Modi returns as PM for SRCC centenary

The September 5 visit coincided with Teachers’ Day and SRCC’s 100th anniversary. The Prime Minister’s Office had announced that Modi would participate in the college’s centenary celebrations and address the gathering. SRCC was established in 1926 by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Shri Ram.

Earlier this year, Modi also met the SRCC governing body at his residence in April in connection with the college’s centenary celebrations and released a commemorative postage stamp marking the occasion. 

The return to SRCC came 13 years after his 2013 appearance at the college, when he addressed students as Gujarat chief minister.

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