Ever since Article 370 was abrogated, it has been a topic of debate and discussion, with the opposition expressing its stance against it and demanding "immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir”. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, there have been several mentions of Article 370 during campaigning in election rallies. Recently, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader Aga Ruhullah on Thursday criticised the abrogation of Article 370 and called it "undemocratic and unconstitutional".
He also stated that the decision was taken "against the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir." He made these remarks ahead of filing his nomination from the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat today.
Criticising the decision to abrogate Article 370, Ruhullah said: "The topmost priority (of work) that I would like to do is that through the Parliament the rest of India should know that the decisions taken on August 5, 2019, were completely undemocratic, unconstitutional and taken against the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. People of Jammu and Kashmir do not agree to this status."
Ruhullah also told news agency ANI that the decisions regarding Article 370 which were taken in 2019 were forced upon the people of the Union territory, who were not in favour of it.
Lok Sabha elections in J&K's Srinagar are slated to be held on April 26 in the second phase. Ruhullah will be competing against Congress's Chaudhary Lal Singh in Srinagar.
PM Modi Targets NC & PDP Over Article 370
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a rally in Udhampur on April 13 that the Congress, National Conference, PDP, and all other parties want to take Jammu and Kashmir back to those old days.
He further slammed these parties for causing damage to J&K, saying: "No one has caused as much damage to J&K as these family-controlled parties. Here political party means, of the family, by the family, and for the family. They try to spread false narratives about Article 370."
Stressing on the advantages of the abrogation of Article 370, he said: "These people must ask the women of J&K how abrogation of Article 370 has ended discrimination with them. How Valmikis, Gurkhas, refugees, Paharis, Padris, Gadda Brahmins got benefits after the abrogation of Article 370."
During the rally, PM Modi also dared the opposition to restore Article 370 and added that he had not only abrogated the provision but "buried its debris deep in the ground".
Modi also hit out at the opposition for watching their interests and alleged that the parties had built a wall of Article 370 between J&K and the rest of the country, which he demolished.
“For the sake of power, they (NC, PDP, and Congress) had built a wall of 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. With your blessings, Modi not only demolished that wall but also buried the debris deep into the ground," he said during the Udhampur rally.