Article 370 will never be restored to Jammu and Kashmir: Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah firmly declared on Saturday that Article 370, which once granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will never be reinstated. His statement comes in response to the election manifestoes of the region's two primary political parties, the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), both of which have vowed to work towards restoring the controversial provision that was abolished on August 5, 2019.

"Article 370 has no place in Jammu and Kashmir now or ever. It will never be restored," Amit Shah stated during a press conference in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. This comment was made when Shah was asked about the regional parties' promises regarding Article 370.

Abolishment and political promises

Article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir special autonomy, was abrogated by the Narendra Modi government on August 5, 2019. Following this, the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The NC and PDP have both made the restoration of Article 370 a central promise in their campaigns for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference’s manifesto includes 12 guarantees, one of which is the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, alongside the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir as it was before the 2019 decision. The NC has a history of pursuing autonomy, having passed a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in 2000 under the leadership of Farooq Abdullah. However, this resolution was later rejected by the Union Cabinet led by then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Congress’s anti-Constitutional face has been revealed once more. By supporting the two Constitutions and two flags proposed by JKNC, Congress supports the policy of dividing India.#CongressBetrayedBharat #SCSTOBCVirodhiCongress pic.twitter.com/DY8d5a31Ve

— BJP ArunachalPradesh (@BJP4Arunachal) August 23, 2024

PDP's stand on autonomy

Similarly, the PDP released its manifesto on Saturday, emphasizing its commitment to restoring Jammu and Kashmir's "original status." The party also pledged to push for confidence-building measures (CBMs) and to foster regional cooperation between India and Pakistan. The PDP criticized the 2019 revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, calling it an "unconstitutional and illegal" act that has deepened the alienation of the people in the region.

Political reactions

Amit Shah also took the opportunity to criticize the Congress party for aligning with the National Conference in the upcoming elections, accusing them of compromising the nation's unity for political gain. He posed a series of questions to Congress, challenging their stance on Article 370 and the NC's demands for a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir.