'Who Said Article 370 Will be Restored'? Kharge's U-Turn After Amit Shah's Remarks

Pune: After Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) repeatedly asserted that nothing can make the Central govt to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, November 15, took a u-turn from party's stand of bringing back the abolished Article.Congress president Kharge's remarks came during an event in Pune on Thursday. Taking a U-turn, Kharge attacked the Union Home Minister Amit Shah , questioning him who in the grand-old party made the Article 370 restoration claim. He further accused the BJP of keeping the "issue alive to divide."Kharge Takes U-Turn After Shah's ‘Article 370 Will Not Be Restored’ Remark 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&amp;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," he added.Article 370 of the Constitution, which provided special status to Jammu &amp; Kashmir, was abrogated by the BJP-led central government in August 2019.Even If Indira Gandhi Returns From Heaven, Article 370 Will Not Be Restored: Shah This comes after Amit Shah, on Wednesday, November 13, asserted that Article 370 will not be restored even if Congress stalwart and late PM Indira Gandhi comes down from heaven. “Even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 won’t be restored,” said Shah.The Congress is in alliance with the National Conference, which heads the government in J&amp;K. Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly passed a resolution demanding the Centre to hold talks with elected representatives for restoration of the erstwhile state's special status.Referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , the Congress president said one of the BJP leaders is saying 'batenge toh katenge' (we will perish if we are divided) and questioned the rationale behind coining such a slogan."Why (give such a slogan)? The country is united. The Congress worked to keep the country united. (To keep the country united) Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. The Congress did this (sacrifices), but you neither fought for the country's unity, nor its independence or the poor," Kharge opined, hitting out at the BJP.He pointed out that it was the Congress which made provision for reservation in the Constitution as first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar worked to approve the quota for SCs/STs in jobs and education."But they (BJP) are still raking up the (reservation) issue," Kharge remarked.He claimed the BJP is pitting the country's towering political figures like Nehru, Ambedkar, Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose against each other."They (BJP) now say Babasaheb wanted to do this, but Jawaharlal Nehru did this. Vallabhbahi Patel said this and Bose said that. When they were alive, you were against the Constitution. You did not even keep the Indian flag in your office."You were not ready to accept the Ashok Chakra (centred in middle of the tricolour) and you wanted to have a Constitution on the basis of Manu (Manusmriti, an ancient religious text) and now you remember the Constitution," he insisted.The AICC president asserted the Congress wants to keep the country united and was ready to make any sacrifice for it.Just 5 per cent people in the country hold 62 per cent wealth and 50 per cent people have only 3 per cent wealth, he said."Instead of reducing this disparity, Modiji is encouraging his friends by selling public sector units. The maximum drug supply is taking place at the port given to Adani. In October, 400 kg cocaine was seized. In February, 4,000 kg charas was seized. Illegal things are being brought in which are destroying (youths in) Pune, Bengaluru, Punjab ," Kharge averred.Asked how the Congress and opposition MVA will mobilise finances to fund populist schemes promised in their manifestos if they come to power in Maharashtra , he said, "Give us power, we will give you a budget. We work as per the budget." "We do not believe in 'khoke' (boxes of money), but 'doke' (brain). We have brains and they have khoke," the Congress leader remarked.Congress governments have successfully implemented pre-polls guarantees in Himachal Pradesh , Telangana and Karnataka, Kharge asserted.Kharge said he had visited Vidarbha, Marathwada and Nashik regions where farmers sought good rates for soybean, cotton and onion.The Congress will procure soybean at Rs 7,000 per quintal if it comes to power, and will also set up a price regulation committee for onions, he said.He backed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's claim that BJP tried to bribe 50 Congress MLAs with Rs 50 crore.(With PTI inputs)

Advertisement

'Who Said Article 370 Will be Restored'? Kharge's U-Turn After Amit Shah's Remarks

Taking a U-turn, Kharge attacked the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning him who in the grand-old party made the Article 370 restoration claim.

Advertisement