BJP brings up issue of revoking Article 370

BJP has revived its agenda by once again calling for abolishment of article 370 of the Constitution, under which Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) enjoys special status. BJP’s central office bearers, which met here on Thursday, unanimously passed the resolution.

“Article 370 has worked against the interests of the people of the state. It has created a psychological barrier between the state and the rest of India. It has prevented investments, job creation and natural integration of the state with India on account of transfer of human population,” leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely said.

“It has given hope to the separatists that the political and constitutional relationship of the state with India could be terminated,” he added.

The party also blamed successive Congress governments, particularly headed by the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, for “the three monumental lapses that have resulted in the problems of J&K”.

“Without realising the implications, our first government agreed to constitutionalise the separate status of J&K,” Jaitely said.

Jaitley praised Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for integrating all other states with India. “Sardar, in the three years he lived after Independence, succeeded in integrating all the states and they pose no challenge to India today. The only state for which Nehru took responsibility was J&K. His errors cost India dearly,” he said.

On chief minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks that J&K had acceded not merged with India, Jaitely said J&K was an integral part of India and its merger was complete and irrevocable.