Those promising restoration of Art 370 playing ’emotional politics’: Raina
Jammu: In a veiled attack on the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina Tuesday said those promising to bring back Article 370 are playing emotive politics.
He said that Article 370, which gave special status to J&K, was abrogated on August 5, 2019 and has now become a part of history.
His statement came after PDP chief and PAGD vice chairperson Mehbooba Mufti said peace in the region cannot be restored without undoing the “illegal” and “unconstitutional” act of revocation of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“No one can restore Article 370 and political parties making false promises of bringing it back are playing emotional politics,” the BJP leader said in a statement after an emergency meeting of the party here.
Without naming Mehbooba or the PAGD, Raina took a dig at regional parties for “misleading” people in the name of Article 370 and said his party would always oppose “tooth and nail” any move to restore it.
In an apparent reference to Mehbooba’s demand for talks with everyone including Pakistan, Raina said India has always favoured friendly relations with its neighbours which should not be taken as its weakness.
“Dialogue and guns cannot go together,” he said, adding India shares very cordial relations with Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan and other countries.
“As far as Pakistan is concerned), it has launched a proxy war against India but will never succeed in its designs. Confidence can be developed through dialogue but Pakistan has never displayed its sincerity to have good relations with India,” he said.
He said the same is clear by its policy of training, funding and pushing terrorists into Indian Territory.
“There can be no talk till this neighbour stops supporting terrorism in any form,” the BJP leader said.
Earlier Raina welcomed the decision of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to take part in the scheduled all party meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, saying we all must unite in the interest of the nation and work for ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'”.
Raina also thanked the Prime Minister for convening the meeting and said he had always shown his big heart for Jammu and Kashmir by addressing developmental issues and providing justice to the deprived communities.
“Prime Minister has convened a meeting of J&K parties on June 24 and it is a proud moment for all of us. We will utilize this opportunity to raise the issues of public interest and talk about strengthening the nation to keep its flag flying high,” Raina told reporters after an emergency meeting of the party here.
He said the Centre has extended the invitation to J&K parties with an open mind and heart and it is now the responsibility of the invitees to reciprocate and join the meeting.
Asked about his reaction to the decision of the PAGD to take part in the meeting, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said it is very good that all political parties are taking part in the meeting. We have already announced that I along with my colleagues are joining the meeting”.
It is a very important meeting and when the Prime Minister is on the chair it has its own sanctity. All issues of public interest will be discussed, he said, adding we will need to join hands to speak in one voice for our nation and the tricolor. We should strengthen the pledge of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. (PTI)
Press Trust of India
