Commenting on BJP’s poll promise to repeal Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday appealed the party to ‘stop playing with fire’.
The PDP chief warned that if the BJP annulled the Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, if voted to power, then not only Kashmir but the entire country will burn.
“Already Jammu and Kashmir is sitting on ‘barud ka dher (pile of gunpowder)’. If this happens then not only Kashmir but the country and the region will burn. So, I appeal to BJP that please stop playing with fire,” Mehbooba told news agency ANI.
Mehbooba’s remark comes after the BJP released its election manifesto on Monday, proposing to annul the two Articles. While Article 370 grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 35A provides special rights and privileges to the citizens of the state.
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Apart from this, there are several PILs pending in the Supreme Court, challenging both Articles 370 and 35A.
The seven-phase elections in the country are slated to begin on April 11 and will go on till May 19. Results will be declared on May 23.