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BJP’s ‘Mission 44+’ forces rethink on Article 370
Trying to play down the controversy over the Article, Bharatiya Janata Party state vice president Ramesh Arora said the BJP wants a debate and discussion on the issue.
Srinagar: Moving away from its time-tested policy on Kashmir, the BJP which is forging ahead with its ‘Mission 44+’ in Assembly polls went all out on Wednesday to woo Muslims by stating that it won’t press for the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Trying to play down the controversy over the Article, Bharatiya Janata Party state vice president Ramesh Arora said the BJP wants a debate and discussion on the issue. “We will take people into confidence and asses its merits and demerits to the state and proceed accordingly,” he said. Arora, who is in charge BJP’s Kashmir affairs, said, “Kashmiris will feel more secure if the BJP is voted to power in the state. Kashmiris need to vote en masse for the BJP. This contention is wrong that the BJP is a communal party. Kashmir is a land of Sufi saints. Islam will grow better during our regime.”
“The state as such has no religion but we (BJP) respect all religions and pledge religious freedom to all as guaranteed in the Indian constitution. Those who say the BJP would be a threat to Kashmiriyat... are wrong,” he said.
