Bone of Contention

Fayaz Bukhari

Article 35-A is an emotional topic in Kashmir. The Centre has handled the issue in such a way that it has brought mainstream regional parties and Separatists on the same page here. Emotions run high whenever there is any talk of Article 35-A. And it hasn’t helped that the Centre has done nothing about handling the situation well. They have not made any efforts to bring the Separatists into the mainstream unlike the previous governments at the Centre.

NC president Farooq Abdullah during a press conference

The two main regional political parties, National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have gone an extra mile in defending Article 35-A by linking the panchayat and municipal elections with it. These two parties boycotted these elections and wanted a clear stand of the Centre and state governments on the issue.

The two parties, however, blame the Centre for linking these polls with Article 35-A by taking a plea before the Supreme Court for deferring the hearing as the state is holding elections for panchayats and municipalities.

The NC and PDP wanted the Centre to clear its stand on the issue ahead of the polls. As the atmosphere in the Valley was surcharged over the issue, the two political parties wanted to respect the public sentiment. They thought that taking part in these polls would further erode their bases and make thei