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The pro- India politician and independent lawmaker Abdul Rashid Sheikh Thursday called for a special session of the Indian-controlled Kashmir lawmaking body to pass a resolution demanding complete restoration of the region's autonomy under Article 370 of the India constitution.
"I have urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the leader of the House, to call a special session of the Assembly and pass a resolution demanding complete restoration of the autonomy and special status bestowed to the region under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution," Sheikh told media in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
"Since the special status of the state has been gradually eroded, it is imperative that the Assembly takes steps to restore it in its original form as per the Constitution and safeguard it." Sheikh called upon ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) to stand united in the fight for the rights of region's people.
"The state Legislative Assembly (lawmaking body) must make it clear that autonomy is not the final resolution of the issue of Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-controlled Kashmir), but its complete restoration will pave way in that direction," he said. "I volunteer myself to move this resolution in the House."
The Article 370 enshrined in Indian-constitution is a provision that grants special status to Indian-controlled Kashmir which otherwise is not applicable to any other Indian state within the Union of India.
The row over Article 370 triggered Tuesday after a junior minister in Indian Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said the new government has started the process for abrogating the provision extending special status to Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The statement evoked sharp reactions from regional political parties as well as opposition parties in India.
The region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah threatened the special status was the only link between region and India and efforts to abrogate it would have serious repercussions.
The opposition pro-India Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated abrogation of Article 370 would alienate region's people from India and has potential to trigger another partition.
Though Singh later on told media he was "misquoted". However, senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Ram Madhav added to the war of words saying Indian-controlled Kashmir would always be an integral part of India with or without the provision. He took on Abdullah questioning whether the chief minister thought the state was his "parental estate".
RSS is the idealogical fountain head of rightwing Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP).The BJP-led government has assumed office on Tuesday under leadership of Narendra Modi. The party swept polls in recently concluded India's general elections and won the majority.
BJP had always demanded abrogation of Article 370 and it was conspicuously figuring in their election manifesto.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat has condemned Singh's remarks regarding abrogation of Article 370 and stated the BJP-led government should do nothing to undermine this commitment.
The Congress party also criticized BJP for abrogating Article 370 saying it remains an integral part of the basic structure of Indian constitution and can neither be amended nor abrogated.
A separatist movement challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Militant groups are also engaged in a guerrilla war with Indian troops across the restive region.
