New Delhi: As the BJP continued to disrupt proceedings in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly after a resolution was passed to restore Article 370, Smriti Irani of the BJP criticized the INDIA bloc on Thursday.
The assembly faced continued turmoil, with clashes between opposition and Kashmir MLAs leading Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn the session, warning BJP leaders against further disruption.
Earlier, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, brother of Engineer Rashid, displayed a banner supporting Article 370, calling for the restoration of special status in the House.
During a press conference, the former government of India minister stated that Article 370, abrogated in 2019, would not be reinstated.
“Through BJP workers, I want to assure the citizens of India and tell leaders of the INDIA Alliance that Article 370 will not return, and their attempts to divide Jammu and Kashmir from India will fail,” Smriti Irani said.
On Wednesday, the J&K Assembly passed a resolution calling for the restoration of the region’s special status. Amid the uproar, BJP legislators tore copies of the resolution, stormed the well of the House, and protested against the Speaker.
The resolution, introduced by Deputy Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) leader Surinder Choudhary, urged the “Government of India to engage in dialogue with elected representatives” to reinstate the region’s special status, which was revoked in 2019.
Smriti Irani questioned Congress, National Conference, and INDIA bloc leaders, asking, “After the abrogation of Article 370, will the Congress and the INDIA Alliance oppose the rights now granted to the tribal communities in J&K? Yesterday’s resolution reveals Congress and the INDIA bloc’s tactical support for extremism and terrorism,” she claimed.
Irani further condemned the INDIA bloc, stating, “Yesterday, the INDIA bloc attempted to undermine the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. The scenes from the assembly, where the Constitution was disregarded, show a blatant disregard for the rights of tribal communities, Dalits, and women. The Congress-led INDIA bloc’s actions will not go unchallenged by vigilant citizens of India,” the BJP leader asserted. Although Congress contested elections in alliance with the National Conference, it is not part of the JK government.