Massive mandate a strength in taking big decisions: Modi

HARYANA POLL PITCH Dares Opposition to reverse Art 370 move; slams Cong for meet with British leader on J&K

BALLABGARH (HARYANA): Asserting that India is now taking big decisions such as that on Article 370 which were unthinkable earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the massive mandate given by the people gave him the strength to take the step and challenged the opposition Congress to publicly state that it will restore the provision if voted to power.

Addressing his first of four election rallies in Haryana this week, Modi said the opposition parties in the state were crumbling and their attempts to come together are falling apart, while the BJP had a “strong team and a strong captain” in Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

The prime minister again targeted the opposition on the issue of abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir as he did in poll-bound Maharashtra on Sunday.

“India is taking big decisions, which no one could think of earlier. Which decision am I talking about? This decision is of Article 370. “J&K and Ladakh are moving on path of trust and development and credit for this does not go to Modi, but it goes to 130 crore people of this country. I derive strength from you, you gave us big mandate,” he said.

Modi accused the Opposition parties of politicising the issue of Article 370.

“I challenge them that if Article 370 is so dear to you, you go among the people and tell them that you will reverse the Centre’s decision,” he said.

Last Thursday, t he BJP attacked the Congress over its “shameful shenanigans” after the UK representatives of its overseas wing discussed the Kashmir situation with Britain’s Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“Today the whole country is seeing that those people whose interests have been hurt by this deci s i on, are s hocked and stunned. These people are questioning this decision, going abroad and asking for help. I am shocked by this,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

The controversy broke out last week after Corbyn tweeted a picture of his meeting with members of Indian Overseas Congress UK who he said discussed the “human rights situation in Kashmir”.

The BJP had hit out at the Congress, terming it as “appalling” and said that “India will give a befitting reply to the Congress for these shameful shenanigans.”