Presenting the manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Amit Shah ruled out restoration of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state, saying the provision has now “become history”.
The restoration of Article 370, abrogated in 2019, has been promised in the manifesto released by the National Conference, which is contesting the elections in alliance with the Congress. The Assembly elections will be the first since 2014 and are also being closely watched to gauge how the people of Jammu and Kashmir feel about the removal of the provision.
In Jammu and Kashmir on a two-day visit, Mr Shah said the erstwhile state has been very important to the BJP since independence and the party has since made efforts to keep it connected with India.
“Till 2014, the shadow of separatism and terrorism loomed over Jammu and Kashmir. Various state and non-state actors tried to destabilise it and governments adopted a policy of appeasement. But, when the history of India and Jammu and Kashmir is written, the years between 2014 and 2024 will be written in golden letters for Jammu and Kashmir,” the minister said in Hindi.
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