Kashmir is an integral part of India, says top Muslim body backing abrogation of Article 370
New Delhi: Though Pakistan is trying to interfere with the Modi government's historic move to abrogate Article 370, a top Muslim body- Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind- has openly backed India's decision to do away with Jammu and Kashmir's special status and said it considers Kashmir as an integral part of India.
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind's Farooqi Saab told IBNS, "We passed a resolution today. The resolution says Kashmir is an integral part of India and that can't be compromised in any manner."
Slamming Pakistan, Farooqi said, "We are with the country. Pakistan is utilising people of Kashmir as a shield for their vested interests. Pakistan is the source of the Kashmir problem. They have created this problem. Pakistan is not only inciting people of Kashmir but also fighting a proxy war.
"We have no reservation over the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370. Our loyalty to India is not conditional. We feel the integrity of India must not be compromised irrespective of the situations. In any situation, we are behind India."
The Indian government on August 5 scrapped Articles 370 and 35A and bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Though Pakistan tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue, India maintained that the issue is completely internal, a stance widely accepted by several countries.
When asked about the detention of several Kashmir leaders including former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti- more than a month after the Centre took the step, Farooqi said, "The detention is an internal matter of India. We will raise it at the right forum. We are not against democratic rights."
Hitting out at the Opposition for calling the situation in Kashmir as different from the one claimed by the Centre, Farooqi said, "If the Opposition thinks the situation is bad, then they should come forward with details and information. Why are they hiding?"
CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who was allowed by the Supreme Court to visit Jammu and Kashmir to meet his party colleague Yousuf Tarigami, said the situation in the valley is not identical to what has been claimed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
However, the Opposition has so far not come forward with any hard evidence even as restrictions are being eased out in Kashmir gradually.
(Image Credit: facebook.com/JAMIATULAMA.I.HIND.IN)
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