Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a blistering attack on the Congress party and the National Conference (NC) over their stance on Article 370. Shah, a key figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and central to the 2019 abrogation of the controversial article, criticized the opposition for allegedly keeping Jammu and Kashmir trapped in a cycle of underdevelopment, corruption, and violence for decades. His comments came amidst the BJP’s campaign to showcase the positive changes in the region post-Article 370.
Shah’s Attack: A Direct Challenge
“Three generations of your family can’t do what Prime Minister Modi has done for Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah remarked, directly addressing the Congress and National Conference. His statement was aimed at the dynastic politics in Jammu and Kashmir, where parties like the National Conference, led by the Abdullah family, and the Congress, which has been helmed by the Nehru-Gandhi family, have historically held significant sway.
Shah’s message sought to portray the abrogation of Article 370 as a historic correction that had undone decades of political mismanagement and corruption under previous governments. He emphasized that both the Congress and the NC had exploited the region’s special status for their own political gain, keeping the common people deprived of basic rights and opportunities.
“Your leaders kept Jammu and Kashmir away from the mainstream for 70 years, while filling their own coffers. Article 370 was a tool in their hands to create an environment of separatism, terrorism, and corruption,” Shah said, holding both the Congress and the NC responsible for the challenges that have plagued the region for years.
Article 370: A Brief Background
Article 370, a provision in the Indian Constitution, granted special autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, allowing it to have its own constitution, flag, and decision-making powers over everything except foreign affairs, defense, finance, and communications. It was inserted into the Constitution as a temporary provision after the state’s accession to India in 1947.
However, this special status became a contentious political issue over the years, with many in India, including the BJP, viewing it as a barrier to the full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. The BJP had long maintained that Article 370 fostered separatism and held back economic development in the region.
In August 2019, the Modi government, led by Amit Shah in his capacity as Home Minister, revoked Article 370 through a presidential order and reorganized the state into two Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The move was met with strong resistance from the Congress, National Conference, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who called it unconstitutional and an attack on Kashmir’s identity.
Economic and Social Development Post-Abrogation
In his speech, Amit Shah highlighted the changes Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed since the abrogation of Article 370. He claimed that under the BJP government, the region has seen unprecedented development in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
“Before Article 370 was removed, your leaders promised development but delivered nothing. But after its abrogation, there has been a sea of change,” Shah told the gathering. He listed projects such as the completion of long-pending roadways, new universities, increased industrial investments, and efforts to promote tourism in the region as evidence of the government’s commitment to transforming the region.
Shah also emphasized that the region had seen a significant drop in terrorist activities and stone-pelting incidents, crediting the government’s tough stance on separatism and terrorism. He contrasted this with the situation under previous regimes, where, he claimed, violence was rampant due to the ineffective handling of internal security.
The Opposition’s Stance and Response
Both the Congress and the National Conference have consistently criticized the BJP’s decision to revoke Article 370, arguing that it was an attack on Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy. Leaders like Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah from the NC and Rahul Gandhi from the Congress have repeatedly questioned the long-term benefits of the move and raised concerns about human rights violations and political instability in the region.
Responding to Shah’s remarks, NC leader Omar Abdullah stated, “The abrogation of Article 370 has not brought the peace and prosperity that the BJP promised. Instead, it has alienated the people further and diminished trust between the region and the rest of India.”
Congress leaders have echoed similar sentiments, pointing to the curtailment of political freedoms and the prolonged detention of several leaders in the aftermath of the decision. They argue that the abrogation has done more harm than good, fostering an environment of fear and disenchantment among the people.
Moving Forward
As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for elections — potentially the first state elections after the abrogation of Article 370 — the BJP is focusing on its development narrative, while the opposition continues to push back against the changes imposed by the Modi government. Shah’s forceful rhetoric is likely to deepen the divide between the BJP and its critics in the region, setting the stage for a politically charged campaign.
The BJP will count on the progress it claims to have made in the region, while the opposition will challenge those claims, arguing that Jammu and Kashmir’s unique identity and needs were disregarded for political gain. The legacy of Article 370, as Shah’s speech demonstrated, remains a flashpoint in India’s political landscape.