Kashmiri politicians day-dreaming, restoration of Article 370 next to impossible: BJP

Srinagar: Soon after major political parties of Jammu and Kashmir issued a joint statement on Saturday expressing their commitment “to strive for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A”, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president, Ravinder Raina, said that they are “day-dreaming” for the restoration of the Articles which is “next to impossible”, PTI reported.

He claimed the controversial Articles were like a “wall of hatred” which did nothing except “digging an ocean of misunderstandings” and retarding the growth and development of the erstwhile state, the report said.

Raina, while addressing party workers today at Sialsui village of Kalakote in Rajouri district, made the remarks soon after the signatories of last year’s Gupkar Declaration issued a joint statement.

The statement said that they are unanimously resolved to fight for the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state “as it existed on August 4, 2019”, and that the measures taken on August 5, 2019 were “spitefully shortsighted” and “grossly unconstitutional”.

Reacting to the statement, Raina said: “The restoration of Articles 370 & 35A is next to impossible. Due to these Articles, J&K has suffered for decades and they gave rise to terrorism, separatism and flared up the Pakistani agenda and as such, they won’t be restored at any cost.”

“Kashmir-based leaders are doing nothing except day-dreaming as they are feeling restless to return to the corridors of power to enjoy all luxuries for themselves and their near and dear ones,” Raina added.

He alleged that due to the pre-370 arrangements, more than one lakh people have lost their lives in J&K because these “pseudo-leaders were carrying on their duties with the hidden agenda of Pakistan.”

“After the abrogation of these Articles, the communities like West Pakistan Refugees, Gorkha Samaaj, Valmiki Samaj, daughters of the soil, Gujjar-Bakarwals and many other communities enjoyed the air of freedom as they were being discriminated on every issue earlier,” Raina alleged.

Raina said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected the “dirty politics” of parties like the National Conference, Congress, PDP and the People’s Conference and the union territory is now progressing on the definitive lines of unprecedented development.

With inputs from PTI