Art 370 history, won’t return: Shah releases BJP manifesto for J&K poll
Home Minister Amit Shah today launched the BJP’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and said Article 370 had become history and would never return to the union territory.
In the manifesto, the BJP promised a grant of Rs 18,000 per annum to the eldest woman in each household under the ‘Maa Samman Yojana’. In neighbouring Himachal, the Congress government has rolled out a similar scheme that provides Rs 1,500 per month grant to all women aged 18 and above. The BJP also promised to raise the old age, widow and disability pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000 and rehabilitate the displaced communities, including Kashmiri Pandits. Shah, who reached Jammu earlier in the day on a two-day visit to kick-start the campaign for the three-phase elections on September 18, 25 and October 1, expressed “surprise” at the National Conference (NC) manifesto that promised to restore Article 370.
“It’s sad to notice that some parties are promising to bring back Article 370. I read the manifesto of the NC, which is supported by the Congress. I want to ask (Congress MP) Rahul Gandhi why he’s silent on the issue and whether he supports the NC manifesto… But one thing is for sure —Article 370 is history and will never return,” he said.
The minister said the BJP would not enter into an alliance with the NC, PDP or any other party that “promoted dynastic rule”. Targeting the NC, PDP and the Congress, he said during their rule, the “grassroots democracy was limited only to three families”. “No panchayat elections were held. There were no tehsil panchayats or district panchayats… The BJP government conducted elections for panchayats and civic bodies,” he said.
Shah asserted that Article 370 was a “dangerous link” that provided stones instead of books to the youth, pushing them towards terrorism. “The NC wants to release stone-pelters and terrorists. They also want the two-flag culture back,” he said. The minister promised that a white paper would be issued by the government to fix responsibility of those involved in the emergence of terrorism in J&K.
He also termed the 10 years after 2014 as the golden period for J&K. “From maximum terrorism to maximum tourism, J&K has witnessed peace and development. Earlier, separatists along with the local government would work against the people’s welfare… ‘Strike calendars’ were issued from Pakistan. There are no such strikes now. Movie theatres have opened in Kashmir. Record number of pilgrims are visiting Amarnath and Vaishno Devi. Tourism is on an upswing,” he said.
The minister said due to Article 370, no reservation was earlier possible in J&K. “Women and people belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities were discriminated against. Now, we have reservation … OBC quota has also been increased. Paharis too have it,” he said.
The manifesto was released at a hotel in Jammu where Shah was accompanied by senior leaders, including J&K unit chief Ravinder Raina, ministers Jitendra Singh and G Kishan Reddy, national general secretary Tarun Chugh and Devender Singh Rana.
Meanwhile, Shah also said India was not in favour of talks with Pakistan till the time terrorism ceased to exist in J&K. “Talks and bombs cannot go together,” he said at a media briefing when asked to respond to a poll promise by some parties on resuming trade with Pakistan.
