Vanathi Srinivasan calls NC, PDP’s Article 370 promises deceptive

BJP Mahila Morcha president Vanathi Srinivasan on Sunday dismissed the promises made by the National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to restore Article 370 in their election manifestos as “impossible,” accusing them of deceiving the public ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

Addressing reporters following a meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Mahila Morcha at the BJP headquarters, Srinivasan criticised the opposition parties for their commitment to restore Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir before its abrogation in August 2019. The BJP-led Union government had revoked Article 370, bifurcating the state into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

“It is impossible for them (NC and PDP) to restore Article 370. They are trying to fool the people. The abrogation was enacted by Parliament through a constitutional amendment, and it is clear that in the name of Article 370, discrimination was rampant here,” Srinivasan asserted. She highlighted the suffering endured by the people of Jammu and Kashmir due to separatist political factions, emphasising that the younger generation now seeks peace and development, which only the BJP can deliver.

NC’s manifesto includes 12 guarantees, such as the restoration of Article 370 and statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, while PDP has vowed to pursue the return of the union territory to its “original status” and to promote confidence-building measures (CBMs) and regional cooperation between India and Pakistan.

Srinivasan predicted that both, NC and PDP would face defeat in the upcoming Assembly elections, arguing that their promises regarding Article 370 and other issues would not resonate with voters. “The people now understand that they are engaging in politics merely to benefit their own families,” she remarked.

She also praised the proactive efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir BJP’s women’s wing, particularly during the recent Lok Sabha elections. Srinivasan noted that Mahila Morcha members have been organising booth-level and Assembly-wise events to connect with women voters, helping to ensure that government initiatives, especially those sponsored by the union government, reach even the most remote areas, thereby benefiting women significantly.

Looking ahead, Srinivasan stated that the Mahila Morcha aims to strengthen its outreach to beneficiaries of government schemes, particularly women, by raising awareness about property rights established through the abrogation of Article 370 and the reservations granted to the scheduled caste community.