Terming the article 35 as a major hurdle in the Jammu and Kashmir’s development, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) State spokesman Altaf Thakur said that article 35 A of the Indian constitution has been resulting in the major gender discrimination in the State as women empowerment continues to remain struck in this article. Thakur said isn’t it a big discrimination if a J&K woman marries outside the State on her choice, she can’t buy property in the place where she is born and grown up.In a statement issued here, Thakur said that the woman who marries outside the State, should have an equal right to buy land in her birth place and settle down with her husband but article 35-A bars her to do so which is a big gender discrimination and injustice.The BJP State spokesman said that those beating their chest over 35-A are actually playing politics over the issue as some people have now made it as a religious issue. He said if rolling back of article 35 A allows outsiders to settle down in J&K, why those people who are crying hoarse over it, not protesting over the settlement of Rohingya refugees in J&K, who seem to be rising in number each passing day.
Thakur said that every citizen of the State has a right to approach court if he/she feels discriminated. Since, he said, the issue is in the Supreme Court, the there be thorough discussion over the issue to know its pros and cons. He said let reality come out as to whether this article really is in the benefit of people of J&K or it is a major roadblock in the outside investigation which ultimately would lead to the progress and development of the State.Lashing out at the separatists for playing dirty politics over 35 A, the BJP State spokesman said that one hand separatists demand Azadi from India but at the same time they show their belief in the Indian constitution by demanding Article 35 A and Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that provide special status to J&K, should Stay. Thakur also took a dig at the mainstream parties including National Conference, Congress and PDP, are playing vote bank politics over the issue of article 35 A as these parties have always deceived people of the State for their petty political gains through their time to time family rule.The BJP urged people to show faith in the Supreme Court of India, the world’s biggest democracy. Thakur said every citizen of the State should abide by whatever decision comes from the Apex court.