File Picture
Article 370 seems to be bone of contention for parties in Jammu and Kashmir. In a statement that has sparked off a furore, Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that there was no point in the Opposition raising the issue of Article 370, saying that they have already raised it in the Parliament for two years. He also reiterated his demand to restore statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, which has been bifurcated into two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
“There’s no point in raising Article 370 which we have raised in Parliament for 2 years. Govt has conceded nothing but Statehood. Our demand is restoration of Statehood and conduct of elections in J&K without any delay,” he said.
However, Azad’s line was firmly rebuffed by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference vice- president Omar Abdullah. “Article 370 is a legacy of the Congress. If Congress is not ready to save its own legacy, how can they save others,” Abdullah said.
On Sunday, Abdullah raised concern over the rising `militancy` in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC) leader said that youths of Kashmir are ready to take up arms due to anger against the government.
