Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 20: BJP today lashed out at National Conference (NC) saying bringing back Article 370 is next to impossible and party is trying to mislead the people by promising its restoration. It is nothing but a political gimmick aimed at winning the support of the people in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The people are more aware in the present era of modern means of communication and can’t be misled through emotions and false narratives”, said Balbir Ram Rattan, senior party leader and co-incharge Media Relations Department while reacting to the misleading poll promises of NC made in its Election Manifesto at a press conference here, today.
Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, media secretary, J&K BJP and Sanjay Bakshi, Member, Media team were also present in the press conference.
Article 370 and 35 A, have been removed forever, Constitutionally and legally, and cannot be brought back by the Assembly, Balbir said, adding that even NC leaders too know it well that the special provision has gone into chapters of the history forever, but are making attempts to regain the lost political ground by emotionally exploiting it.
Balbir Ram Rattan said that restoration of Article 370 and 35A would mean snatching rights of the refugees, SCs, Valmiki Samaj and daughters of the soil and the people would never allow this to happen.
Balbir reminded the people that it is the same NC that had been seeking the votes for decades together on the name of ‘Autonomy’ and the resolution passed by the then NC Government was put in dustbin by the then Central Government led by Vajpayee and now the party has tried to exploit sentiments of people on Article 370 and 35 A.
Dr. Pardeep Mahotra said that the NC manifesto also promises return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley but no one will trust this as it was the party which was in power in J&K for so many years before and after migration of this community but none of its leader uttered a single word of sympathy for them who were forced to leave Kashmir for the honour and safety of their families. This is again a political gimmick and the affected people will never trust it.
Dr. Pardeep also criticised NC for advocating talks with Pakistan the mastermind of terrorism.