“Does Congress support restoration of Article 370?”: Gujarat CM on Congress-National Conference alliance in Jammu-Kashmir

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], August 24 (ANI): Launching a scathing attack on the Congress over its alliance with the National Conference for the Jammu-Kashmir assembly elections, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday said that the party must answer if it supports the restoration of Article 370 as mentioned in the NC’s manifesto.

Accusing the Congress of being “greedy of power,” Patel said the “real face” of the party which “supports autonomy” in Jammu and Kashmir has been revealed.

“The Congress party which has been out of power has once again shown its intention of playing with the unity and integrity of the nation. The nation wants to know that does the Congress party support the restoration of Article 370, which is mentioned in the manifesto of the National Conference. The real face of the Congress which supports autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir, has been revealed in front of the people now,” Patel said.

“There is no doubt that the Congress party has formed an alliance with the NC to be in power,” he added.

Earlier in Jammu, BJP leader Devendra Rana lambasted the Congress for aligning with the NC.

“National Conference has released an election manifesto. A manifesto to consolidate anti-national forces,” he told reporters at a press conference on Friday

He added, “But, they have said that they will end the reservation in Jammu and Kashmir after coming to power. The reservation belongs to our Dalits, Gujjars, Paharis, and Other Backward Classes (OBC).”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday also launched a scathing attack on the Congress party over its alliance with the National Conference (NC) for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, questioning its stance on key issues outlined in the NC’s poll manifesto.

Taking to X, Shah said, “The Modi government ended years of discrimination against Dalits, tribes, Pahadis, and backward communities by granting them reservations after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A.”

He questioned Rahul Gandhi if he supports the NC’s manifesto, “which calls for abolishing reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Pahadis.”

“After allying with the National Conference, he should now clarify the Congress Party’s stand on reservation policy,” Shah further stated.

On Thursday, Congress and the NC announced a pre-poll alliance and said that seat-sharing talks are currently underway. The pre-poll alliance was announced soon after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge met NC chief Farooq Abdullah.

After the meeting, Farooq said that the Congress-NC would fight for all 90 seats in the assembly polls.

The formal announcement of the tie-up was made by NC patron Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar. “United, we stand,” JKNC posted on X. (ANI)

Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4.

In the first phase, 24 Assembly seats will go to polls on September 18.

The seats, that will go to polls in the first phase, are Pampore, Tral, ulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal.

The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014.