National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said that his party would not participate in the local polls till the Centre takes an effective stand on Article 35A. The Supreme Court is hearing a bunch of petitions filed by some of the individuals or NGOs against the article.
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Article 35A restricts property ownership and government jobs to permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The top court earlier argued that it will hear the petitions in January following the panchayat and local body polls so that there are a law and order situation and no violence in the valley at that time.
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Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, said that any debate on Article 35A at this juncture would have an impact on the law and order situation in the valley where elections to over 4,500 posts of sarpanch and to 1,145 wards are scheduled.