BJP can't abrogate Article 370 even with 2/3 majority: Cong

Congress today charged BJP with misleading people of the country by promising abrogation of Article 370, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, saying it was not possible to repeal the Constitutional provision even if BJP gets two-third majority in Parliament.

"Just like Ram Temple, BJP is befooling the people of this country on the issue of Article 370. Article 370 is the binding force between India and Jammu and Kashmir; it is a commitment that was signed between the Maharaja and the Indian government of that time," Congress spokesman Meem Afzal told reporters here today.

He said that the abrogation of Article 370 was impossible and BJP would not be able to do it even if it secures two third majority in Parliament.
 

BJP spokesman Sambit Patra had yesterday said that the issue of the abrogation of Article 370 continued to be part of the core ideology of BJP and the party would work towards its removal once it gets two third of majority in Parliament.

"They will never get two third majority and even if they do they cannot be able to abrogate it. BJP sacrificed all its ideology and sat in the laps of PDP just to be in the power.

"The party which once accused PDP of being sympathetic towards separatists has now joined hands with the same party to enjoy power," Afzal said.

The former MP also said that Hurriyat Conference should fight elections to prove its relevance in Kashmir.

He said that dialogue in Kashmir can only be held with the elected representatives of the people and Hurriyat Conference does not have a representative character.

"The recent polls in Jammu and Kashmir have proved that more than 95 per cent people in the state follow the democratic process, if Hurriyat wants to hold talks it should first fight elections and prove its representative character," he said.