BJP’s Ram Madhav reiterates Modi government’s commitment to abrogation of Article 370

New Delhi, Jun. 29 (HS): Asserting the firm stance of the saffron party even before its inception on the abrogation of the contentious Article 370, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s national general secretary Ram Madhav on Saturday asserted that the ruling Narendra Modi led government is committed towards repealing the provisions which grants special status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir.

 Speaking to a leading media, Madhav said, “Article 370 has to go lock, stock  and barrel” which was reiterated and raised  by Home Minister Amit Shah yesterday during his  Lok Sabha speech on the contentious measures pushing  for  integration of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of India with zero tolerance policy towards terror and their ideological supporters  while addressing the floor of the Parliament.

The BJP leader said the present government is committed towards resolving all outstanding issues plaguing Kashmir and asserted that the government had initiated action and  policy in this direction.

“As far as Article 370 is concerned,  our ideological commitment is well-known. Article 370 should be removed. We are against it since the beginning. However, Madhav cautioned that the present ruling Modi goverment would take suitable measures to remove the Article 370 at an appropriate time”, said Ram Madhav.

The BJP leader said the Article 370 was introduced as a temporary measure by the  former Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru  who himself believed that the provision would erode on its own which was proof enough that Nehru himself wanted this provision to end.

However, on being asked if the article would be done away with, during  the tenure of the present government coming to power with a massive mandate, Madhav said since the action required following due procedures, it would take appropriate time.

Reiterating Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments in the Parliament, Madhav said that Jawaharlal Nehru was responsible for the problem of  Kashmir.

The BJP leader said that Shah had stated the historical truth in the Parliament  that the first Prime Minister of independent India, Pt. Nehru’s policies were responsible for  the ills of Kashmir and said the Congress failed to own their failures for the misdeeds of Nehru who moved the United Nations giving one-third part of the territory of J&K to Pakistan  and proclaimed Article 370 in Kashmir without consulting the then Home Minister Sardar Patel who would have prevented the present situation in Kashmir.

Article 370 gives complete autonomous status to Jammu &Kashmir limiting the Central government formulating any laws for the state.

 Madhav also held responsible the regional parties in Kashmir such as People’s Democratic Party (PDP), National Conference (NC) including the Congress for failing to improve the situation in Kashmir despite being in power for several decades.