Janata Dal United (JDU) on Monday criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for saying there should be a debate on Article 370 of the Constitution.
"We had an idea that they want Article 370 to be removed from the Constitution. Though they are saying it politely, as elections are on, but they really want it to be removed," said JDU leader Ali Anwar
"It was one of the reasons for kicking them out of the alliance (in Bihar). This was one among many other issues, and, that's why we ended the seventeen-year-old alliance with them. And, all of this is turning out to be true," he added.
Modi in his 'Lalkar' rally in Jammu, had on Sunday said there should be a thorough debate on issue of Article 370, which gives special and autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He also made a reference to India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, saying: "Nehru had said that in the future, the importance of Article 370 will fade out,"
Criticizing the Congress, he said: "The Congress has sown the seeds of a 'separate state but the BJP Government will transform Jammu and Kashmir into one of the super states of the country.