Srinagar: Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the National Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party dismissed the rumours about the abrogation of Article 35-A pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a presser in Srinagar, Chauhan dispelled the rumours and said that the calling in of additional troops to Jammu and Kashmir is just a routine exercise.
Chauhan added that no such proposal is being discussed in the power corridors in New Delhi and that the matter is sub judice.
Rumours in the valley, for the past few days, have taken a centre stage about Government of India’s ‘preparation to abrogate the article’ that grants special rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti had said that Government of India’s decision to deploy 10,000 troops in the valley has created fear psychosis in people.
Moreover, appealing people not to give ear to rumours, Additional Director General Police (ADGP) Law and Order Muneer Khan said 100 companies of paramilitary forces will replace those personnel of training companies, who are deployed on various duties since last year starting from Urban Local Bodies elections.
“Around 200 training companies are presently performing duties in the Valley which are to be replaced in phased manner. More training companies will be relived in due course of time with fresh forces.
Presently around 200 companies of paramilitary are deployed in Kashmir,” he said.
Article 35-A protects the demographic status of the Jammu and Kashmir state in its prescribed constitutional form.
The Article 35-A allows the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define permanent residents of the state. It was inserted through the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954, which was issued by President Rajendra Prasad under Article 370, on the advice of the Nehru-led Government in the centre.
The calling in of the additional 100 companies of central paramilitary forces added to the apprehensions of the people.