'Scrapping Art 370 will pave way for Kashmir’s Azadi'

Hours after BJP, in its election manifesto, promised to scrap Article 35A and Article 370 if it comes to power, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference warned that such a move will pave way for ‘Azadi’ (freedom) of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting sharply to the BJP’s promise to revoke Article 370, NC president and former union minister Farooq Abdullah said, “Do they (New Delhi) think that they will abrogate Article 370 and we will be quiet? They are wrong. We will fight against it.”

“Bahar se laenge, basaenge, hum sote rahenge? Hum iska muqabala karenge, 370 ko kaise khatam karoge? Allah ki kasam kehta hun,Allah ko yahi manzoor hoga, hum inse azad ho jayen. Karen hum bhi dekhte hain. Dekhta hun phir kon inka jhanda khada karne ke liye taiyar hoga. (They will bring people from outside and we will keep quiet? We will fight against any step to annul Article 370. God willing there will be separation. Let’s see how they do it. Will see who will be ready to hoist their flag),” he said while addressing an election rally in Munawarabad area of old city Srinagar.

Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders, octagenrian Abdullah said that they speak a few words of love for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. “Yes, we are a Muslim majority state and there is no doubt about that. Try as much as you want but you can’t change it. You think by removing Article 35A, you will usurp our rights. Will we take this lying down? We will fight it,” he asserted.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which released its election manifesto on Monday, reiterated its stand about the abrogation of the Article 370 and 35A that provide special status to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

Seconding the NC chief’s views, PDP president and former chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, said, “I reiterate, if Article 370 is abolished, India will become occupational force in Jammu and Kashmir. I warn BJP leaders not to play with fire. Jammu and Kashmir is sitting on a volcano and if you will try to put it on fire, it will not only burn the state, but whole India and the region.”

“People of Jammu and Kashmir are fighting for a cause for the last 70-years and you (BJP) will be yourselves giving a chance to them to get Azadi (freedom),” she claimed.