AGRA: Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh on Wednesday said that it’s time for the Union government to seriously consider revoking Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, which gives the troubled state an autonomous status.Talking to media in Aligarh , Singh, while referring to the Pulwama attack, said, “this is the need of the hour”. He said only PM Narendra Modi can do this. “Kashmir is very important and and integral part of our nation, but this Article 370 makes it detached from the country,” said Singh, adding that people across nation will support this move.Reacting to the demand of actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan for a plebiscite (referendum) in Kashmir, Singh said, “The demand is absolutely wrong”. He said that even former Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru had also suggested it but there is no need for it . “Jansangrah (referendum) has been conducted there through democratic means,” he added.Calling it the Pulwama attack as an act of cowardice, Singh said that it was “barbaric” and he condemns it in the strongest possible words. “Now is the time to take some strict action against those who help these terrorists,” said Singh, adding that it was good that the government had withdrawn security of separatist leaders and the PM had given free hand to the security forces.It may be mentioned here that the Supreme Court will hear a plea for an urgent hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the constitutional validity of the Article 370 of the Constitution next week.A lawyer and BJP leader Ashwani Upadhyay filed the plea last September, contending that the special provision was "temporary" in nature at the time of framing of the Constitution and Article 370(3) lapsed with the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly on January 26, 1957."The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir is invalid mainly for the reason that the same has not yet got the assent of the President, which is mandatory as per provisions of the Constitution of India," the plea said.Meanwhile, a large number of students of Dharam Samaj Degree College in Aligarh have also started a signature campaign for repealing of Article 370. So far the petition has received 800 signatures.

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