ART 370: NO COMEBACK

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said following its abrogation, Article 370, which had accorded special status to the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, has become "history" and it will never be restored.

- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Speaking at the release of the BJP's manifesto in Jammu, Shah urged the people to vote for his party to ensure better governance. J&K is slated for a three-phase poll on September 18, 25 and October 1.

In its manifesto, the party has promised rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, support for refugees from Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir and internally neglected groups like the Valmikis and Gorkhas. It has also stated that it would launch a drive to evict illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi settlers.

Commenting on the National Conference manifesto which speaks about restoration of Article 370, he said, “I have gone through their agenda and want to make it clear that Article 370 has become history and will never stage a comeback”. The BJP had earlier asked the Congress, too, if it agreed with its alliance partner, the National Conference’s views on restoration of the special status and the state flag.

Shah added Article 370 was no longer a part of the Constitution and claimed that over the decades when it was in force, it had only “put weapons and stones in the hands of the youth and encouraged them to take the path of terrorism”.