Karan Singh Warns Article 370 Row Will Heighten Tensions In J K
'Handle Article 370 with a cool head': Congress leader Karan Singh warns ongoing row will heighten tensions in J&K
By [/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Mail+Today+Bureau Mail Today Bureau]
Published: 22:44 BST, 29 May 2014 | Updated: 22:44 BST, 29 May 2014
[ ] [ ] [ ] </a> [/indiahome/indianews/article-2643158/Handle-Article-370-cool-head-Congress-leader-Karan-Singh-warns-ongoing-row-heighten-tensions-J-K.html#comments
View
comments] Members of a right-wing organisation burnt posters of J&K CM Omar Abdullah in the Capital over his support for Article 370
The row over Article 370 of the Constitution, which accords a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, must be "handled coolly and in a mature fashion" as the issue is extremely sensitive, senior Congress leader Dr Karan Singh said on Thursday.
Singh, whose father Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession whereby Jammu and Kashmir became a part of India in 1947, said he was "distressed by the fierce controversy" on Article 370 that erupted due to an "avoidable statement" by Dr Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.
"The whole question is extremely sensitive and must be handled coolly and in a mature fashion. The sort of statements issued from both sides will only create further turmoil and tension in Jammu and Kashmir," Singh said in a statement.
The issue of Kashmir has to be looked at in an integral fashion, including the international dimension, constitutional position, and legal and political aspects, he said.
"Such an integral review is overdue, but it has to be done in a cooperative rather than a confrontational manner," he added.
On Tuesday, the media quoted MoS Singh as saying that the new government wanted to have a debate on the disadvantages of Article 370.
After J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and https://allinfootballncricket.hpage.com/sourav-ganguly-the-maharaja-of-cricket.html the Opposition PDP criticised his comments, the minister claimed he had been "misquoted".
In his statement, Karan Singh said when former provincial states signed merger agreements, the relationship of J&K with India was governed by a special set of circumstances.
The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, signed into law in 1957, is still in force, he said.
J&K is an "integral part" of India but that does not mean it has to be treated on par with other states.
"My appeal to all concerned is to kindly tone down the rhetoric and not let the minister's statement plunge the new government almost immediately into a complex and difficult situation," he said.
