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| 'Article 370 is a wall of hatred', says BJP | | War of words escalates | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 4: The BJP, which is being targeted by all the Kashmir-based and Valley-centric parties, including NC, Congress, CPI-M, JDU, SP and so on for demanding debate on Article 370 has stepped up its attack on the supporters of this Article and described Article 370 as a "wall of hatred". It has also rejected its opponents' view that Article 370 is a bridge between Jammu and Kashmir and rest of India and that its demolition would mean end of the state's accession with India.
"I reject outrightly the regressive and divisive view of the NC, the Congress and the CPI (M) that Article 370 was a bridge and to demolish it would mean de-accession of the state from India. Article 370 is not just a wall of hatred between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country, but it has played havoc with the rights of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and perpetrated on the state a system of governance which is anti-people, discriminatory, parochial and even anti-India," said state BJP president Jugal Kishore Sharma the other day.
Sharma regretted the 'negative' attitude of these parties and said it would have been better had they appreciated the suggestion of Narendra Modi and come forward for a debate on the Article and its implications for the people, Jammu and Kashmir and the country as a whole. "Instead of appreciating the rational suggestion of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi that there should be a comprehensive debate on the pros and cons of Article 370, the vested interests in Kashmir as represented by the NC, CPI (M) and the so-called Indian National Congress, unleashed a misinformation campaign to mislead the people and suggest that Article 370 was a permanent feature of the Indian constitution," said Jugal Kishore, and reiterated his party's stand that Article 370 was a temporary provision.
To make his point, the state BJP president referred to what Prime Minister and Congress veteran Jawaharlal Nehru had said about Article 370 in 1963 in the Parliament. He reminded the critics of the BJP saying that Nehru had told the Parliament that Article 370 will become redundant in due course and added that "this communal Article has vitiated the whole atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir and harmed the political, civil and economic rights of the people of the state in general and the people of Jammu and Ladakh and religious and ethnic minorities, including Kashmiri Hindus, Gujjars and Bakerwals, Shiite Muslims, refugees from West Pakistan and so on in particular". He stressed the need of a comprehensive debate on Article 370 saying it has become imperative considering the miserable plight of various segments of Jammu and Kashmir society. "A debate on this Article has become imperative to educate the public opinion about the damage it has caused to the polity and society during the past more than 64 years" and asserted that "the demolition of the wall of hatred created by Article 370 alone could integrate the state into India and empower people to exercise all the rights which are available to their counterparts in the country".
India is a democratic country and discussion on controversial issues are the right way to resolve them. The supporters of Article 370 must accept the challenge of the BJP and participate in a debate based on historical facts. Not to participate in the debate with the BJP would be only to prove that their case is weak. |
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