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BJP attacks Omar Abdullah over Article 370 remarks
The BJP has criticised Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for referring to Article 370 and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in his Independence Day speech. J&K Assembly Opposition Leader Sunil Sharma…
The Story in Brief
The BJP has criticised Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for referring to Article 370 and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir in his Independence Day speech. J&K Assembly Opposition Leader Sunil Sharma called the remarks “unfortunate” and “irresponsible”, saying the address should focus on national unity, soldiers and the Tricolour. Abdullah reiterated his government’s commitment to restoring statehood and constitutional safeguards withdrawn in August 2019.
Abdullah said unrest in PoK reinforced the decision taken by Jammu and Kashmir’s leaders to accede to India in 1947. He said that, had the region’s special status not been withdrawn, people across the Line of Control might have protested to rejoin India. He also referred to vacant Assembly seats reserved for representatives from Pakistan-administered areas.
The Indian Opinion
The lazy version is that Abdullah rejected India, while the counterclaim is that any criticism of 2019 changes is automatically anti-national. Neither follows from the speech. He affirmed the accession and described people across the LoC as his own, while also renewing a political demand for statehood and constitutional safeguards. The useful test is concrete: will the Centre restore statehood, and what protections will accompany it?
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, news.abplive.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
