NEW DELHI: In a move that drew political fire, interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir have placed fresh emphasis on Article 370, saying its "erosion" should be checked by replacing the word "temporary" in its title with "special" so as to reaffirm the state's "dual character".
The report, made public on Thursday, said the state's special status should be made a permanent feature of the Constitution as "its 'erosion' over the decades must be re-appraised to vest it with such powers as the state needs to promote the welfare of the people on its own terms.
Proposing a constitutional committee to review all central Acts and articles extended to the state since 1952, the report said such a panel must bear in mind that "...J&K enjoys a special status in the Union, enshrined in Article 370 and the dual character of the people of the state, that they are both state subjects and Indian citizens."
The report also suggested that Parliament make no laws applicable to the state unless relating to internal and external security and vital economic interests.
