BJP leader Smriti Irani on Thursday firmly stated that Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir before being abrogated in 2019, will not be reinstated. Her comments came after disruptions in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly following Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh’s display of a banner calling for the restoration of Article 370.
At a press briefing, Irani criticized the opposition INDIA bloc, accusing it of supporting extremist elements through its stance on Article 370. “I ask Congress, National Conference, and the INDIA Alliance: will they oppose the rights granted to tribal communities in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370?” she said.
On Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly passed a resolution seeking to restore the region’s special status, sparking an uproar as BJP members tore up the document, disrupted proceedings, and voiced opposition to the motion. The resolution, introduced by J&K Deputy Chief Minister and National Conference leader Surinder Choudhary, urged the Government of India to engage in dialogue with elected representatives to reconsider the abrogation.
Irani strongly condemned the opposition, saying, “Yesterday, the INDIA Alliance tried to undermine the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. Their actions show a blatant disregard for the rights of tribal communities, Dalits, and women. A vigilant India will not tolerate such moves led by the Congress and the INDIA Alliance,” she added.