SC’s order on Art 35-A echoes in RSS meet

JAMMU: As the Supreme Court has referred the petition against Article 35A of the Constitution to a three-Judge Bench, the top brass of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is of the opinion that this verdict is a step forward towards rectifying the “biggest constitutional fraud”.

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 19

As the Supreme Court has referred the petition against Article 35A of the Constitution to a three-Judge Bench, the top brass of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is of the opinion that this verdict is a step forward towards rectifying the “biggest constitutional fraud”.

The RSS has repeatedly dubbed Article 35-A of the Constitution as “illegal” and “constitutional fraud”— depriving citizens of India of their fundamental rights.

On July 17, the apex court had referred the petition challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A of the Constitution to a three-Judge Bench for “larger debate”.

Sources said on the second day of the ongoing Akhil Bharatiya Prant Parcharak meeting being held at Jammu, the top leadership of the Sangh deliberated on the apex court’s judgment on Article 35-A. “The sangh top brass is optimistic that larger debate on this Article will help create nationwide awareness about biggest constitutional fraud and will educate the citizens flaws in incorporating this Article in the Constitution,” a source said, adding that during the meeting, senior leaders threw light on Article 35-A and mentioned that it was high time to intensify debate on this issue.

Although petition against Article 35-A has been filed by Delhi-based NGO “We the Citizens”, the Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) has conducted a thorough study on Article 35-A. Senior RSS activists are associated with the JKSC, which has started a nationwide campaign to challenge constitutional validity of this Article.

Sources say the Sangh leadership wants larger debate on Article 35-A so as to expose those who are abusing the special status of J&K. “Instead of politicising the issue of special status, the Sangh leadership has decided to rake up constitutional issues to counter arguments of supporters of Article 370,” a source said.

Addressing a seminar at Jammu on June 23, Dr Krishana Gopal, Sah Sarkaryavah (national joint general secretary) of RSS, had said Article 35-A was one of the biggest constitutional frauds.

Article 35A empowers the Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir to define “Permanent Residents” of the state and subsequently empowers it to provide special rights and privileges to these permanent residents.

Apex court judgment

On July 17, the apex court had referred the petition challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A of the Constitution to a three-Judge Bench for “larger debate”
The RSS has repeatedly dubbed Article 35-A of the Constitution as “illegal” and “constitutional fraud”— depriving citizens of India of their fundamental rights
Senior leaders threw light on Article 35-A and mentioned that it was high time to intensify debate on the issue

Conclave to discuss K-situation today

Jammu: The RSS in its ongoing apex body meeting will dedicate a full session to discuss the prevailing situation in J&K on Thursday. After getting feedback from its offshoots, RSS’s apex body will review the performance of the PDP-BJP government vis-à-vis implementation of party’s agenda in the only Muslim-majority state of the country. BJP’s national general secretary Ram Madhav reached Jammu on Wednesday for the meeting. TNS