Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday set the record straight on Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, that "Article 370 has no place in Jammu and Kashmir now or ever". The Home Minister's candid remark came as the J&K's two regional parties — the National Conference and the PDP — promised in their election manifestos that the same would be restored if they are voted to power after the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
"It will never be restored," Press Trust of India reported, quoting Amit Shah at a press conference in Raipur on Saturday. The state elections will be conducted in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) — in three phases between September 18 and October 1.
This is the first time the state will vote in the assembly elections after the abrogation of article 370 in 2019. Article 370 was abrogated by the Narendra Modi government in its first term on August 5, 2019, and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two UTs – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
What regional parties – PDP & NC – have promised
"We strive to restore (Articles) 370-35A, and statehood as prior to August 5, 2019," the National Conference’s poll document said. Among the 12 guarantees announced by the party in its manifesto for the upcoming polls, is the implementation of the autonomy resolution passed by the erstwhile assembly in 2000. Farooq Abdullah-led the National Conference, in June 2000, had passed a resolution in the J&K Assembly seeking to restore the pre-1953 constitutional position in the state.
The same was rejected by the Union Cabinet headed by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Meanwhile, PDP in its manifesto promised to pursue the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir to its "original status".
Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday, slammed the Congress party for an alliance with the National Conference and shot a total of 10 questions at them.
The National Conference (NC) led by Farooq Abdullah on Friday formalised a pre-poll partnership with the Congress party. This alliance was confirmed during a meeting at Abdullah's residence on Thursday, attended by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
(With inputs from PTI)