Jammu: With the first phase of the elections nearing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched an attack on the opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir and made the abrogation of Article 370 its poll plank yet again.
Senior leaders, including Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and party's national general secretary Taran Chugh, have attacked the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress over the issue of Article 370. They say in case these parties win the elections in J&K, they will push for the “return of Article 370”.
The Lt Governor-led administration and Union Government are being questioned by locals over the issues of rising terrorism, restoration of statehood, unemployment and inflation, which have left the saffron party with few issues for the elections. The party has found Article 370 as a safe refuge to launch attacks on the Opposition.
While talking to mediapersons on Friday, Reddy warned that the NC-Congress alliance's “ plans to bring Article 370 back once again would separate J&K from the rest of India and undo the progress made since the BJP's abrogation of the law in 2019”.
He said the erstwhile state had witnessed dramatic transformation after the repeal of the Article 370 that he claimed was the reason behind the lack of basic infrastructure, including electricity, roads, water connections and housing for the poor.
Many senior national leaders of the party are camping in Jammu and areas, where the first phase of elections will be held on September 18. The party's top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, among others are expected to hold rallies in the Jammu region in the coming days. They are also expected to raise the issue of Article 370 during their rallies.
“Soon after the abrogation of the Article, the region was free from the scourge of stone pelting, which once involved children being coerced into violence against security forces. Pakistan-sponsored protests and strikes have come to an end and Kashmiri Pandits are being restored to their rightful place with dignity and security,” said Reddy.
The minister further stressed the critical choice that lies before the people of J&K between violence and separatism or peace and development.
