The political discourse surrounding Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has once again heated up with the ongoing elections, marked by significant voter turnout. Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khwaja Asif, has stirred a fresh controversy by claiming that the Congress party, the National Conference (NC), and Pakistan share the same stance on the restoration of Article 370 and 35A in J&K.
His remarks have provoked a swift response from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with senior leaders accusing the Congress of aligning with anti-national forces.
In a televised interview on Geo News, Asif suggested that Pakistan, along with the Congress-NC alliance, supports the reinstatement of the now-revoked special status of J&K.
This statement comes at a crucial time when elections in the region are in full swing. The first phase has already seen an impressive 59% voter turnout, underscoring the people’s enthusiasm in shaping the future of the region. However, Asif’s comments have sparked outrage, particularly within the BJP, which has been vocal about its opposition to the restoration of Article 370.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah was one of the first to react strongly, condemning the defence minister’s statement and alleging that the Congress has always been in sync with forces working against the nation’s interests.
Shah criticised Congress for consistently questioning Indian military operations like surgical strikes and air strikes, further accusing the party of siding with Pakistan on several national issues. The home minister reiterated the government's stance, asserting that Article 370 will never be reintroduced in J&K under the current administration.
The controversy didn’t end with Shah’s comments. BJP’s Amit Malviya took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share a video of Khwaja Asif’s interview, launching a sharp attack on the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi.
Malviya alleged that Gandhi’s views have often aligned with those of Pakistan, drawing parallels between the Congress leader’s remarks and statements from separatists like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Pannun, a Sikh separatist, recently endorsed Gandhi’s remarks about the challenges faced by the Sikh community in India, further fueling BJP’s narrative that Congress is pandering to divisive elements.
BJP spokespersons and senior leaders also joined the fray. Rajeev Chandrasekar, a former Union minister, questioned the Congress's alignment with Pakistan’s stance on key national issues.
He accused Rahul Gandhi of consistently siding with Pakistan on matters ranging from Jammu and Kashmir to Bangladesh. Chandrasekar further raised concerns about whether Pakistan holds any influence over Gandhi, rhetorically asking if there was any "leverage" Pakistan had over the Congress leadership.
Another BJP leader, Shehzad Poonawalla, echoed these concerns, sarcastically remarking that the Congress-NC’s hand was now out in the open, metaphorically linking it with Pakistan’s.
Poonawalla’s statement amplified the BJP’s messaging that Congress would go to any lengths to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even if it meant aligning with Pakistan.
Despite the uproar, the Congress has largely remained silent on the issue of Article 370. While the National Conference has pledged to restore the special status of J&K, the Congress has not mentioned it explicitly in its manifesto.
However, the party has committed itself to restoring the full statehood status of Jammu and Kashmir, a move aimed at addressing the concerns of the people in the region.
Meanwhile, the BJP has consistently positioned itself as the party that permanently removed Article 370, with leaders regularly reiterating that it will never return under their governance. Amit Shah, during a recent campaign trail, reiterated this point, emphasising that neither terrorism nor Article 370 would be allowed back into the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been actively campaigning in J&K, marking his presence in the region for the first time in decades. In a rally held in Doda, Modi accused the Congress-NC alliance of wanting to restore Article 370 but assured the people that such a move would not happen under his government.
PM Modi has focused his campaign on the BJP’s development agenda for J&K, highlighting infrastructure improvements and other initiatives aimed at benefiting the people of the region.
As the elections continue, Modi is scheduled to address rallies in Srinagar and Katra, following the significant voter turnout in the first phase of the election. The Prime Minister has expressed his optimism about the poll process, noting the enthusiasm of the people of J&K in shaping their future through the democratic process.
While the BJP is positioning itself as the guardian of J&K’s future, staunchly opposing the return of Article 370, the Congress’s silence on the matter remains notable.
As the elections unfold, the political narratives surrounding Article 370, J&K’s statehood, and Pakistan’s involvement are expected to play a critical role in shaping the region’s political landscape.
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