During the unveiling of the manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Amit Shah firmly rejected the possibility of restoring Article 370, which previously granted special status to the former state. He stated that the provision has now “become history.”
The National Conference, contesting the elections in an alliance with the Congress, has included the restoration of Article 370, which was abrogated in 2019, in its manifesto. These elections, the first since 2014, are being closely monitored to assess public sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir regarding the removal of the provision. In 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was also bifurcated into two Union Territories, including Ladakh. The government has assured that Jammu and Kashmir will regain statehood soon.
On a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Shah emphasized the significance of the region to the BJP since India’s Independence, highlighting the party’s longstanding efforts to keep Jammu and Kashmir connected to the country.
“Till 2014, the shadow of separatism and terrorism hung over Jammu and Kashmir. Various state and non-state actors tried to destabilise it and governments adopted a policy of appeasement. But, whenever the history of India and Jammu and Kashmir is written, the years between 2014 and 2024 will be written in golden letters for J&K,” the minister said in Hindi.
“There was a time when, under the shadow of Article 370, we saw governments bowing down to the demands of separatists and organisations like the Hurriyat. In these 10 years, Article 370 and 35-A (which gave the J&K legislature the right to define permanent residents and give them special privileges) have become part of the past. They are not part of the Constitution,” he added.
Shah stressed that the abrogation of Article 370 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2019, has led to development in the region. He also remarked that he had reviewed the National Conference’s manifesto and noted the Congress’ “silent support” for it.
“But I want to make it clear to the country: Article 370 has become history. It can never come back and we will never allow it to come back. Because Article 370 was what led to the youth being handed guns and stones in Kashmir,” he said.
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Regarding the Assembly polls, Shah mentioned that the BJP’s manifesto focuses on creating a “peaceful, safe, developed and prosperous” Jammu and Kashmir.
The elections will be conducted in three phases, starting from September 18 to October 1, with counting scheduled for October 8.