Srinagar: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs & Information, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali on Thursday termed Article 370 as bridge between J&K and India and underlined need to strengthen it to keep the bond ‘intact.’
Speaking during release of book ‘Commentary on J&K Constitution’ in Urdu compiled by Advocate S. Sundar Lehar and published by Jay Kay Law Reporter, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali said J&K Constitution was drafted as per Article 370 of Indian constitution. He said that the Article provides special status to Jammu & Kashmir which has own Constitution, State Flag, and Ranbir Panel Code.
The Minister said that since J&K has been given special powers under Indian Constitution so everybody must respect Indian Constitution and try to safeguard the special provisions enshrined in the Indian Constitution for Jammu & Kashmir. He said that Article 370 is bridge and it has bonded relations with Union of India. ‘’We need to strengthen this bridge so that to strengthen the bond’’, Zulfkar said, adding that this Article provides atmosphere for cordial State – Centre relations and every citizen must respect it.
Commenting on the necessity of separate constitution for Jammu & Kashmir, Zulfkar said that during the British period, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by a hereditary king and like many rulers Maharaja Hari Singh joined Dominion of India by signing the Instrument of Accession on October 26, 1947. He said that it was a historical fact that the accession was confirmed after the condition that Jammu and Kashmir would be governed by different rules to be framed by the Constituent Assembly which were framed and inserted in Article 370 of India Constitution. He said that the Article was very important and it must be safeguarded and strengthened more to keep the bond of state and Union intact.
Earlier the Minister released Urdu Book on Commentary of J&K Constitution which is compiled by Advocate S Sundar Lehar and published by Jay Kay Law Reporter. On the occasion, Sunil Gupta, Managing Director Jay Kay Law Reporter was also present who thanked Minister for releasing the Book. He also highlighted the importance of Book on the occasion.
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