New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir turmoil has been exacerbated by speculation that the Centre is planning a big move on Special Status granted under the Constitution to the State. The two Constitutional provisions in focus are Article 35A and Article 370. The ruling BJP's opposition to both has been unambiguous and clear in its election manifestos.
According to the Constitution of India, Article 370 provides temporary provisions to Jammu and Kashmir, granting it special autonomy. In 1949, the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had directed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdullah to consult Ambedkar (then Law Minister) to prepare the draft of a suitable article to be included in the Constitution. Article 370 was eventually drafted by Gopalaswami Ayyangar, a Minister without portfolio in the first Union Cabinet of India.
