As Congress party's Bharat Jodo Yatra is in Jammu and soon will be on its way to Kashmir, it is getting support from regional parties with a number of people joining it. At the same time the BJP has stepped up attacks on the party calling it Peoples Alliance Gupkar Declaration’s B-team, soft separatists and siding with those who have launched anti-India tirade.
BJP is asking Congress “Kashmir” questions calling it to clear its position about Article 370 as National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party seek its restoration.
Congress Saturday came in support of the restoration of the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and pitched for Article 371 like guarantees for J&K.
“You are talking about Article 370 and I am talking about Article 371. Under Article 371 many states of our country and many areas of our country have got special provisions,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said while interacting with reporters in Kathua.
Many analysts in Kashmir say by talking about restoration of statehood and Article 371 for J&K, the party has cleared its stand.
They say even Congress’s demand for Article 371 for J&K may not play well for the party at national level as BJP will say Congress is giving back to J&K what it took away on August 5, 2019 when it abrogated Article 370.
Political commentator Zafar Choudhary says BJP’s response to the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir is understandable as “BJP would obviously not like any cohesive force emerging and gaining popularity, particularly in a ‘suspected’ election year.”
“Congress is a dead horse in Jammu and Kashmir with no clear stand on anything that has happened over the last four years. As Bharat Jodo Yatra puts the party in public spotlight, draws attention of the politically unaligned, it rejuvenates possibilities of anti-BJP alliances,” Choudhary adds.
Since the day Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Jammu and Kashmir, BJP leaders across Jammu and Kashmir have been coming up with statements against Yatra. The party is also holding regular press briefings in Jammu.
“Congress does not seem to have learned any lesson from its repeated follies as the fourth generation Nehru-Gandhi scion is now hobnobbing with soft-separatists, known for their divisive, communal and separatist politics,” BJP leader Davinder Singh Rana said.
Rana, who was earlier close confidant of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and for long time remained president of National Conference in Jammu region before joining BJP in 2021, Congress responsible for decades long mess in Jammu and Kashmir. “The party and its newfound allies are destined to fail, as the BJP is committed to clear the mess and put Jammu and Kashmir on the path of political stability and prosperity,” Rana said.
“The beginning of undoing the wrongs commenced on August 5, 2019 when Parliament repealed the Article 370, granting special status to this part of the country, and making it integral with the nation emotionally and in totality,” Rana said.
Sat Sharma, senior BJP leader and former minister while commenting on ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra said Congress party can only break the country and not unite it.
Sat Sharma alleged the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is pursuing the anti-India tirade by inviting the persons of doubtful and controversial credentials to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra. “Rahul Gandhi should clear the stand of his party by allowing valley based political parties in Bharat Jodo Yatra on PAGD’s pro-Pak agenda and their take on Article 370. It seems that the Yatra is an attempt to revive the dynasty rule of three families, Gandhi, Abdullah and Mufti in the country as well as in J&K also,” Sharma said.
Former Minister and vice president BJP Sham Sharma said, “Congress leaders should clear their stance on PAGD’s pro-Pak agenda and their stand on abrogation of Article 370. He said the Congress Party should know what Mehbooba Mufti had said over the special status provision of J&K that no one will hold the National Flag if the Article 35A will be tinkered with.
“Rahul Gandhi is pursuing the anti-India tirade by inviting the persons of doubtful and controversial credentials to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Sharma said.
