Islamabad: Truth emerging big time, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has stated that the Shehbaz Sharif led coalition government as well as Congress National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir “are on the same page” on the issue of reviving Article 370 and Article 35A in the erstwhile state, at a time when Assembly polls in the Union Territory have started.
During his interview with Geo News, Khawaja Asif was asked whether Pakistan and the Congress-NC had similar views of the revocation of Article 370 and Article 35A in the Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir by the BJP government. “Certainly we do. We are also in the same demand,” he said.
Hum Saath Saath Hain ?
— C.R.Kesavan (@crkesavan) September 19, 2024
Defence Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Asif on Hamid Mir on Geo News says, “Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A”. pic.twitter.com/Un38mEWQOh
But Asif stated that Article 370 may well be back should the Congress-NC combine come to power in the Jammu and Kashmir after the ongoing Assembly polls. “At present, the National Conference and Congress have a very large influence there; the people of the valley have been encouraged a lot on this point and I think that the Conference (National Conference) will be able to come to power there; it has become an election agenda that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir should be brought back to the status of pre-1953,” he said to Geo News.
This is a collection of freezing of all sort of state activities coupled with setting up of chambers, Congress-NC stand on Article 370 and more.
The political parties gearing up for the upcoming elections, the National Conference has come out with the list of 12 elective promises which are also known as guarantees, one of the promises being the revival of the abrogated Article 370 which NC Vice-President, Omar Abdullah had earlier expressed positivity over the revival of the provision in the Jammu and Kashmir state. ‘’If today they had a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court pegged a verdict against Article 370; isn’t it possible that tomorrow a seven-judge constitution bench could give a verdict in favour of the Article 370.’’
They want to revoke article 370 and make some specific changes to the constitution the veteran NC leader and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah has also expressed hope regarding its return. “How many years BJP took to abrogate it (Article 370)? By God willing, we will also restore it. It (Article 370) is the heartbeat of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 and 35 A will be restored,” he said.
On the other hand, congress has kept mum and there is no hue and cry being made for the restoration of article 370 in J-K. But, it was silent regarding that issue in its election manifesto. But congressional voices on the eve of the release of the Trump administration’s plan have been raised for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and the rehabilitation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits who had to quit their homes by crossing the Amarnath devastated valley during the mass exodus during the nineties.
The promises made have been called a ‘people’s manifesto’, and these are a renewed focus on health, including every family being provided insurance of up to ₹ 25 lakhs and at least one super speciality hospital in every district. Besides it also speaks of providing 1 lakh people employment opportunities and providing 11 kgs of ration each member of the family.
This is why the BJP is aghast at Pakistan’s support to the Congress-National Conference alliance, or whichever name it goes by.
The BJP has reacted angrily to Pakistan’s support to the Congress-NC stand on Article 370 in the state. Amit Malviya, BJP leader and party’s media cell-in-charge, condemned Rahul Gandhi and his party for their stand that he said was always supporting those unfriendly to India.
Let me make it more graphic Pakistan is a terrorist state https://twitter.com/AnuragShourie/status/1206979512938485761 and this terrorist state supports Congress and National Conference on Kasmir
https://twitter.com/AnuragShourie/status/1206980499341658628 Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif agrees with Rahul Gandhi and his Congress on Capital Talk on Geo News? Malviya
There was never any doubt today the cat is out of the bag, for Modi Virodh they can even stand with Pakistan Congress NC ka Haath Pakistan ke Saath BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.
Pakistan, a terrorist state, endorses Congress and National Conference’s position on Kashmir.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 19, 2024
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk on Geo News says, “Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to… pic.twitter.com/In8SOJKHBZ
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk on Geo News says, “Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A”
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 19, 2024
Was there ever any doubt?
Today the cat is out of the bag
For Modi… pic.twitter.com/0AZ8jzd89S
Provisions were removed by the government of Narendra Modi on 5th August 2019 which essentially stripped away the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution of India. This move also led to the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two separate Union Territories: States that compose the Union Territory include the following; Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Notably, the assembly polls are being held in Jammu and Kashmir in three phases. The first phase of voting was held on September 18. The second phase of voting will take place on September 25 and the third on October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.