Now, Lekhi calls for debate on Art 370

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 26

BJP leader and Member of Parliament Meenakshi Lekhi today called for a debate on Article 370 while asserting that her party had not diluted its stand on the demand for its abrogation.

Lekhi’s statement evoked strong reaction from the Congress and the National Conference (NC). Both parties have charged the BJP with befooling people by raking up the issue.

Lekhi, who was in the city, to participate in celebrations for the completion of one year of the Narendra Modi government told reporters, “There is no change in our ideology. We are firm on our demand for abrogation of Article 370, but it is not something than can be done in one go”.

In an obvious reference to those advocating continuation of Article 370, she called for a debate on its pros and cons. She said a debate on Article 370 had already started across the nation but there was a need to begin the debate from the Legislative Assembly.

She said people of J&K and rest of the country must first understand what the Article has given them so far and what they have lost because of it. “What is wrong in holding debate on Article 370?” she asked.

On Sunday, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra had said in Jammu that the abrogation of Article 370 continued to be a part of the party’s core ideology and it would work in that direction whenever it garnered the required numbers in Parliament.

Reacting to BJP leaders’ statements, Congress Legislature Party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora accused the saffron party of flogging a dead horse by raking up Article 370.

“Whenever the BJP finds the ground slipping beneath its feet, it resorts to the emotive issue of abrogation of Article 370. To do so in Jammu is a sure sign of the BJP finding itself weaker by the day,” he said.

“The past 75 days has seen the PDP-BJP coalition government stumbling from one controversy to another… it is as if this government suffers from an obsessive compulsive controversy disorder.

The NCtoday said the BJP’s formal demand for the abrogation of Article 370 had exposed PDP’s sell-out for power on key issues that concern the political rights and honour of the people of J&K.

NC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar lashed out at the PDP for maintaining a criminal silence over the BJP’s recent overtures demanding the abrogation of Article 370.