BJP Hits Out at Mirwaiz Over Article 370 Demand, Says ‘It Is Not Coming Back’
The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday strongly criticised Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq over his call for political parties to unite for the restoration of Article 370. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur said such statements could disturb the peaceful atmosphere that has emerged in Kashmir after years of violence and instability.
Thakur said Parliament had taken a “historic” constitutional decision on August 5, 2019, and the Supreme Court later upheld the abrogation of Article 370.
‘Article 370 is not coming back’
Reacting to Mirwaiz’s remarks, Thakur said there was no possibility of restoring the special constitutional provision.
“Mirwaiz Umar Farooq should understand that Article 370 is not coming back. Parliament has buried Article 370 forever, and no political party, leader or pressure group can reverse that constitutional reality,” he said.
The BJP leader accused those seeking to revive the Article 370 issue of attempting to take Kashmir back to the political environment of the past.
“Statements of this nature are meant to provoke people and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the Valley once again. This will never be allowed,” Thakur said.
He added that Kashmir had already witnessed years of violence and disruption and argued that the sacrifices of security personnel and civilians should not be undermined.
BJP says Kashmir has moved ahead
Thakur said the people of Kashmir had experienced enough bloodshed, shutdowns, stone-pelting and disruption and should not be pushed towards another period of instability.
He said the younger generation was more interested in education, employment, entrepreneurship, investment and tourism than in returning to an era of frequent shutdowns and violence.
“Our youth want education, employment, entrepreneurship, investment, tourism and opportunities. They do not want to return to an era when shutdown calendars dictated their lives and violence dictated the future,” he said.
According to Thakur, Kashmir has moved forward and political leaders should focus on issues that directly affect the lives and future of the people.
‘Political parties can express views within Constitution’
Thakur said political parties were free to express their opinions within the constitutional framework, but argued that repeatedly demanding the reversal of the abrogation of Article 370 would serve no purpose.
“Democracy gives everyone the right to speak and participate, but democracy cannot be reduced to repeatedly demanding the reversal of a constitutional decision that has already been upheld by the highest court of the country,” he said.
He maintained that attempts to create agitation around the issue would only create confusion and potentially affect the peaceful environment in Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP draws distinction between Article 370 and statehood
On the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Thakur said the BJP had already made its position clear.
“There is a clear distinction between statehood and Article 370. Statehood will be restored at an appropriate time, as has been stated by the Government. But there is absolutely no question of bringing back Article 370,” he said.
Thakur also accused those discussing the two issues together of misleading the public.
He urged people to focus on development, economic opportunities and peace, while reiterating the BJP’s position that the constitutional changes made in 2019 would not be reversed.
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