National Conference, Congress face ire of Kashmir parties over Article 370 remarks

The ruling National Conference and alliance partner Congress on Saturday faced severe criticism from Kashmir-based opposition parties over remarks made on Article 370, on which even the two alliance partners are at odds.

On Friday, while reacting to statements by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and J&K Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra about Article 370 resolution, NC MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi had issued a warning and said that “no INC president or JKPCC president has a right to misinterpret the resolution passed by the J&K Legislative Assembly in the last session.”

Clarify statements

The manner in which they (NC) mentioned Article 370, it seemed that they were ashamed... Now the Cong is stating that the resolution is for statehood and not Article 370, which has created several questions in the minds of people and the govt should clear it. Mehbooba Mufti, President, PDP

Jailed MP Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party on Saturday strongly criticised Congress and National Conference (NC), accusing them of “abandoning the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“Kharge ji’s statement lays bare Congress’duplicity and raises serious questions about NC’s sincerity. If NC truly cares about the restoration of J&K’s special status, will they have the courage to break their alliance with Congress, whose leader has effectively closed the door on Article 370?” said AIP chief spokesman Inam Un Nabi.

Referring to Mehdi’s statement, Inam said, “This argument holds no ground, given that NC had a pre-election pact with Congress.”

“The Congress’position on such a crucial issue does matter. However, it seems NC never cared to seek clarity from Congress regarding its stand on Article 370 or 35A during their seat-sharing—or more accurately, power-sharing—arrangements,” he said.

On Saturday, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said the resolution asking the Centre to work out a mechanism for restoring special status of the erstwhile state, was vague and not clear on the restoration of Article 370. “The NC and Congress government should clarify. PDP had also said that the resolution was not clear (on Article 370) and it was mentioned vaguely,” she said.

Stating that the present NC government was given a huge mandate by the public, Mufti said sentiments of people are attached with Article 370. “The manner in which they mentioned Article 370, it seemed that they were ashamed and it looked like a surrender. Now the Congress is stating that the resolution is for statehood and not Article 370, which has created several questions in the minds of people and the government should clear it.”

Senior BJP leaders have accused the Congress during the Assembly elections campaign in Maharashtra that the party wants to bring back Article 370 in J&K.

However, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge this week accused BJP of spreading misinformation about Article 370. During a press conference in Pune, Kharge said, “Amit Shah, in his poll rallies, accuses the Congress of spreading lies. (But) He (himself) is saying the Congress wants to bring back Article 370 (in J&K). Tell me, who said that and when?” “You are raking up an issue. If it (resolution to repeal Article 370) had been already passed in Parliament, why are you raking up the issue again? It means you want to keep the issue alive to divide. If you want to say this, go to Kashmir and say it. Elections are over in Kashmir,” the Congress president said.

People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone also targeted NC and Congress. “Congress says it is not about Article 370. NC says it is about 370 and much more. If NC was so serious about the 1953 position or Article 370 or 35A or 5 August— why didn’t they write so in plain English,” he wrote on X. “Was there a dearth of paper to print the resolution on, or dearth of will and courage or the choice of words were pre-scripted and authored in Delhi…”

The J&K Assembly had on November 6 passed a resolution urging the Centre to initiate a dialogue with elected representatives of the Union Territory for the restoration of special status.