Veteran Congress leaders expresses divergent view on Article 370

KARAN SINGH, VETERAN CONGRESS LEADER AND SON OF FORMER MAHARAJA OF KASHMIR HARI SINGH, HAS EXPRESSED A DIVERGENT VIEW FROM HIS PARTY ON THE ABROGATION OF ARTICLE 370. HE ADMITTED THAT THOUGH THE REPEALMENT CAUGHT HIM AND HIS PARTY UNAWARES, HE SAID THAT NOT ALL DEVELOPMENTS IN KASHMIR ARE NEGATIVE. IN A STATEMENT ISSUED IN HIS PERSONAL CAPACITY, KARAN SINGH WELCOMED THE FACT THAT LADAKH HAS BECOME A UNION TERRITORY. HE SAID HE ADVOC ATED FOR A REORGANISATION OF THE STATE DURING HIS TENURE AS THE SADR E RIYASAT. HE HOPED THAT AFTER THE BIFURCATION, JAMMU KASHMIR AND LADAKH WILL GET FAIRER DIVISION OF POLITICAL POWER. KARAN SINGH SAID IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE GENDER DISCRIMINATION UNDER ARTICLE 35 A TO GO AND IT THE ENFRANCHISEMENT OF THOUSANDS OF WEST PAKISTANI REFUGEES WAS WELCOMED. LESTLY, HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A LARGE SECTION OF KASHMIRIS MAY BE MORTIFIED BY THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE VALLEY BUT IT WAS NECESSARY NOW EVEN MORE SO THAN BEFORE FOR THE POLITICAL DIALOGUE TO CONTINUE. FOR THIS, HE STRESSED IT WAS IMPORTANT TO NOT BRAND THE 2 POLITICAL PARTIES FROM J&K AS ANTI NATIONAL AND INCLUDE THEM IN THE OUTREACH.