Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday attacked the Congress for the problems in Jammu & Kashmir and asserted that Article 370 which gives special status to Jammu & Kashmir, was a temporary provision of the Constitution. He made this statement in the Lok Sabha triggering protests from the Opposition benches. Shah blamed Pandit Nehru for all problems in the state.
Amid protests from Congress members, Shah said, “Mein maanta hun 370 hai, aap asthayi shabd bhool gaye hein, ye asthayi hai permanent nahi hai…370 hamare samvidhan ka asthayi mudda hai ye yaad rakhiyega. (I agree there is Article 370, but you have forgotten the word temporary before it. Please remember Article 370 is a temporary issue).”
Abrogation of Article 370 and 35A has been a long-term aim of the BJP. Shah’s statement was welcomed by NDA partner Shiv Sena. Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena took to Twitter give voice to his party’s support to the move. He tweeted: “Extremely happy to hear the stand taken by Amit Shah Ji on Jammu and Kashmir saying that Article 370 is only temporary and the stand on J&K has not changed. Proud today to see a strong home ministry taking a bold stand on Jammu and Kashmir.”
Shah brought a Bill to extend the benefits of reservation to people living along the international border in the state. This was passed by the Lok Sabha. This will benefit 3.5 lakh people living in the Jammu region, also comprising Sambha and Kathua. The people will get three per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions in line with those living along the Line of Control (LoC) due to hardships because of shelling from across the border.
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