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Centre's move undemocratic, unacceptable, and unfortunate: Shehla Rashid

Abha Gupta. Dated: 8/5/2019 4:33:18 PM

Shehla Rashid, activist and former vice-president of Jawaharlal University Student Union, has criticized the Union Government's move to make provisions of Article 370 inoperative by stating that it was a violation of constitutional provisions and that the present government did not respect and follow democratic values and spirit.

Ms. Rashid was in Bengaluru to deliver Dr Fr Ambrose Pinto Memorial Lecture on Indian Democracy, Diversity, and Dissent at St Aloysius Degree College and Centre for Post Graduate Studies.


"We will challenge the Presidential order in Supreme Court. I am in touch with a team of lawyers and a few activists. We will find out the best legal way to fight it this. We hope we will get justice in the Supreme Court as we are in a strong position constitutionally and legally," she said.

Terming the move to make Article 370 inoperative as "fraud on the constitution and the democratic mandate", she said, "the way the Union Government is bulldozing the vicious onto the people of Jammu and Kashmir is unacceptable."

Speaking to media persons after delivering her lecture, Ms. Rashid said that the move was completely undemocratic, unacceptable and the way parliamentary procedures were being carried out to make Article 370 inoperative and to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir was unfortunate. "Rather than strengthing the federal structure and secular fabric of the country, they are weakening them. It is a disgrace on our federal system," she said.

She came down heavily on the Union Government and said that people in and from Jammu and Kashmir were treated as voiceless citizens. "They have made sure no political mobilization can happen in Jammu and Kashmir as leaders have been put under house arrest and all communication has been shut down. Is this democracy," she questioned.

"Since I am out of Kashmir, I have a voice here where I can express myself. I request everyone to stand by and empathize with the Kashmiris in this movement," she said. "If Constitutional values and sprit is being violated here, it can be done elsewhere as well," she added.