BJP Lashes Out at Cong-NC Alliance After Pak Minister Claims “Pak on Same Page” for Article 370 Restoration

The BJP has strongly criticised the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance after Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif claimed that Pakistan and the alliance share a common stance on the restoration of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Asif made these remarks during an interview with senior journalist Hamid Mir on Geo News.

 

 

BJP leader Amit Malviya in a post on X said, "Pakistan, a terrorist state, endorses Congress and National Conference's position on Kashmir. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on Hamid Mir's Capital Talk on Geo News says, "Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A". How is it that, from Pannun to Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi and his Congress, are always seen on the side of those inimical to India's interest?"

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier speaking on Geo News to senior journalist Hamid Mir in a show Capital Talk, the Pakistan Defence Minister was asked whether Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page on the restoration of Article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir. Khwaja Asif replied, "Absolutely. Even our demand is also the same..." Pakistan's Defence Minister also claimed that that Article 370 could return should the NC- Congress alliance come to power in JK.

 

 

"I think it is possible. Currently, the National Conference and Congress have very big importance over there. The population of the valley has been motivated a lot on this issue and I believe, there is a chance that the Conference (National Conference) will come to power. They have made this an election issue that the status of Jammu and Kashmir should be restored," Asif told Geo News.

 

 

Farooq Abdullah, NC Patron, reiterated the party’s commitment to restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, stating, “Article 370 and 35A will be restored.” Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, also expressed hope for the return of Article 370, citing the possibility of a future Supreme Court verdict in its favour.

 

Notably, the ongoing assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being conducted in three phases. The first phase occurred on September 18, with the second phase set for September 25 and the third on October 1. The vote counting is scheduled for October 8.

(With ANI inputs)