Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took a strong stance against opposition leaders Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference and Rahul Gandhi of the Congress during a rally in Jammu, asserting that “not even their generations can bring back Article 370” in Jammu and Kashmir. This statement comes amid the ongoing assembly elections in the region, as reported by news agency ANI.
Chouhan, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), emphasized the permanence of the BJP government in the region while addressing the crowd. He declared, “Today, I want to say that Farooq Abdullah aur Rahul Gandhi ki saat pidhiyan (generations) bhi Article 370 nahi la sakti (even the generations of Farooq Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi cannot bring back Article 370).”
Accusations Against the Opposition
During his address, Chouhan accused the Congress-National Conference alliance of diverting public attention from crucial issues like employment, food security, education, health, and overall development. He criticized the opposition for focusing on the abolition of Article 370, stating, “Our issue is employment, food, education, health, and development. They are leading us in the wrong direction.”
The BJP leader reiterated the party’s commitment to improving the lives of the people in Jammu and Kashmir, saying, “We say what we do. Our goal is to change the fate of the people, to bring happiness into your lives, to bring smiles to your faces, and for you to live your life in peace.” Chouhan dismissed the claims of the opposition, asserting that even the leaders of the National Conference could not abolish Article 370, which grants special status to the region.
Rahul Gandhi’s Response
In response to the ongoing political discourse, Rahul Gandhi, addressing a public rally in Sopore, asserted that the opposition would tirelessly advocate for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. He highlighted the unprecedented nature of downgrading a state to a union territory, describing it as an “injustice” to the people of the region.
“We wanted statehood to be restored before elections. All the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted the elections to take place after the restoration of statehood,” he stated, emphasizing that the issue of statehood is paramount. Gandhi noted that many union territories have been upgraded to states, making Jammu and Kashmir’s situation unique and unjust.
Farooq Abdullah’s Commitment
Meanwhile, Farooq Abdullah reaffirmed his party’s commitment to a legal battle for the restoration of Article 370, describing the BJP-led central government’s decision as “unilateral” and “unjust.” He pointed out that this decision has led to significant hardships for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference has pledged to advocate for Articles 370 and 35A in its manifesto, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the special status of the region.
