BJP MP Nishikant Dubey calls for scrapping Articles 26-29 after Pahalgam terror attack
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New Delhi: A day after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey stirred fresh controversy by calling for the repeal of constitutional provisions that protect religious and cultural rights of minorities.
In a post on social media platform X, Dubey questioned the relevance of Articles 26 to 29 of the Indian Constitution. These articles safeguard the rights of religious denominations and minorities, including the freedom to manage religious affairs and the right to conserve distinct languages and cultures.
Dubey wrote, “When the country was divided in the name of Hindus and Muslims, then those who made Hindus second-class citizens by giving more rights to Muslims in the name of minority just for vote bank should tell today on the incident of Pahalgam whether today’s murder was done on the basis of religion or not?”
He further targeted secular leaders, stating, “Shame on secular leaders. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will be ours. Have patience, this is Modi’s government, whose Home Minister is Amit Shah ji. It is time to end Articles 26 to 29 of the Constitution.”
The constitutional articles in question are:
Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs.
Article 27: Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any religion.
Article 28: Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions.
Article 29: Protection of interests of minorities.
Dubey’s latest remarks come close on the heels of his controversial statements against the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. He had earlier accused the Chief Justice of being responsible for "all civil wars in the country", prompting BJP president J.P. Nadda to distance the party from his comments and urge leaders to refrain from attacking the judiciary. Despite the warning, Dubey has continued his criticism, questioning the appointments of past Chief Justices under Congress-led governments.
The comments come amid national outrage over the 22 April Pahalgam attack, in which a group of four terrorists—two of them locals—believed to be affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), opened fire on tourists. Reports suggest they targeted Hindu pilgrims, using AK-47 rifles with steel-tipped bullets and wearing body cameras to document the assault.
Following the incident, protests erupted in Jammu led by the BJP and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), demanding strong retaliation against Pakistan.
Former BJP J&K unit president Ravinder Raina, addressing the media in Jammu, condemned the attack, stating, “The Pahalgam terrorist attack is a murder of humanity. Kashmir has been bled, and Pakistan and these terrorists will have to pay a heavy price for this crime… The blood of innocents that has been shed in Pahalgam in Kashmir will be avenged.”
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Drug peddler's property worth Rs 1 crore attached in Srinagar
Srinagar (PTI): Property worth Rs 1 crore belonging to a notorious drug peddler was on Saturday attached in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar, police said.
A double-storey house on eight marlas of land situated at Wantpora Eidgah, belonging to Basit Bilal Dar, a notorious drug peddler, valued at approximately Rs 1 crore, a police spokesperson said.
He said Dar is involved in two cases registered under various sections of the NDPS Act.
During investigation, it was established that the accused had acquired the said property through illicit proceeds generated from drug trafficking activities, the spokesperson said.
Consequently, the property was attached under the provisions of the NDPS Act. The attachment proceedings were conducted in the presence of the two independent witnesses, strictly in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures, he said.
As per the attachment order, the owner has been restrained from selling, leasing, transferring, altering, or creating any third-party interest in the property till further orders, the spokesperson added.
