The party leaders in Jammu region are making an effort to cajole voters by saying they would scrap Article 370 of the Constitution.
Dr .Hina Bhat, BJP candidate from Amirakadal and also the vice-president of the BJP’s women wing in the state said, “We are focused on the Assembly elections to accomplish ‘Mission 44’. We are not talking about Article 370 and its abrogation. The Article will not be touched and it is not in BJP’s (yet-to-be released) manifesto to scrap the Article”.
It would force Kashmiris to lift up guns again, if the Article was touched, “And you know I am a Kashmiri too,” Bhat said, laughing.
Scrapping Article 370 would be interpreted as a step against the sentiments of people of the state, said Bhat.
“PM Narendra Modi ji has said we will discuss and debate Article 370. Nowhere, has anyone talked about its removal,” Bhat said, adding that BJP opponents were making the Article an issue to instill fear among the public. “But they know the Article will not be removed by anyone.”
Junaid Azim Mattu, the ruling NC spokesman described BJP’s stand as “doublespeak”. “It cannot say something to some sections in Jammu and another thing to Kashmiris,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP leader and Minister of State in PMO told the Correspondents in Jammu that the BJP’s stand on Article 370 is “very clear”.
All issues, including Article 370, which have been part of the BJP manifesto all these years, will be part of their agenda in the state.