We’ll fix J&K’s 40-yr-old problem in 4 months: PM
MAHARASHTRA RALLY Modi dares Oppn to add 370 restoration in manifesto
NAGPUR: Jammu and Kashmir, which has witnessed restrictions since the Centre’s August 5 decision to withdraw its autonomy, will return to normal within four months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Maharashtra on Sunday, while launching his party’s election campaign in the western state with a sharp attack on the Opposition bloc of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
In Jalgaon, he accused the Opposition of “politicising” the central government’s “unprecedented” decision to nullify Article 370, which gave special status to the militancy-hit state, and asked the Congress and the NCP to clear their stand on the issue that has triggered an intense debate. The situation that “existed for the last 40 years, it won’t even take four months to be made normal,” he said, “We are committed to bringing normalcy back in the border state.”
“You look at the statements made by Congress, NCP of late... They seem to be speaking on lines of the neighbouring country,” Modi said, apparently referring to Pakistan, which has been trying to internationalise the Kashmir issue.
Islamabad, led by its Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has taken up the matter with world leaders, alleging New Delhi’s decision will disrupt regional peace and violate rights of residents of the region. India says the issue is its internal matter, and the decision has been taken for the development of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh areas.
Sharpening his attack on the opposition parties, Modi said, “I challenge them...[to] declare in their manifesto for state election and future polls that they will bring back Article 370 and 35A [which defined who can hold land in Jammu and Kashmir]...that they will change the August 5 decision.”
Opposition parties have criticised the lockdown, which was imposed hours before Union home minister Amit Shah moved a resolution in Parliament to nullify Article 370 of the Constitution and introduced a bill to divide the state into two Union Territories — J&K, and Ladakh. Rivals of the Centre and Maharashtra’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also criticised the detention of political leaders, including former chief ministers.
The government says it has taken steps to maintain security. Several curbs, including those on movement, have been eased, but mobile telephone and internet connections in the Kashmir valley remain cut off. Some mobile phone connections are set to be restored on Monday.
Modi also praised the Devendra Fadnavis-led state government for its five-year performance, which, he said, was “corruption-free” and inspired confidence among all, including farmers and industries.
In another election rally at Sakoli in Bhandara district of Vidarbha, Modi urged voters to choose the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra to ensure a stable, clean and developmentoriented government.