Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday dared the Congress to hold a press conference and announce that the party will restore Article 370.
“I challenge the Congress party to hold a press conference and say they will restore 370. They talk big about the Constitution. They talk about Babasaheb Ambedkar. They abuse us so much. But Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution was not applicable for the entire nation. For 70 years, the Indian Constitution was not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. There, Dalits are getting reservation for the first time [after the Article 370 move]. The Valmiki community is getting reservation for the first time. What are they talking about? Do they have the courage to hold a press conference and say ‘we’ll bring back Article 370’? Can any party dare say that?” Prime Minister Modi said in an exclusive interview with Network18 which was anchored by Network18, Managing Editor and Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi along with News18 Lokmat anchor Vilas Bade and News18 Kannada Editor Hariprasad.
The Article 370 of the Indian Constitution granted special autonomous status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, it was abrogated on 5 August, 2019 resulting in the removal of the special privileges that Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed such as its separate constitution, flag and autonomy over internal matters except defence, communications and foreign affairs.
After its abrogation, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised into two separate Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
In December last year, Prime Minister Modi
hailed
the Supreme Court’s verdict on Article 370 and said it is not just a legal judgment, but a beacon of hope.
“The verdict today is not just a legal judgment; it is a beacon of hope, a promise of a brighter future and a testament to our collective resolve to build a stronger, more united India,” the prime minister said in a post on X with the hashtag #NayaJammuKashmir. He also called the verdict “historic and constitutionally upholds the decision taken by the Parliament of India on 5th August 2019; it is a resounding declaration of hope, progress and unity for our sisters and brothers in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.”
“We are determined to ensure that the fruits of progress not only reach you but also extend their benefits to the most vulnerable and marginalised sections of our society who suffered due to Article 370,” the prime minister said.
The emergence of CAA
When asked about the steep opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA) particularly from Trinamool Congress Supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Modi said, “First of all, whoever understands the Constitution of India, whoever knows the federal structure of India, and whoever knows what is in whose jurisdiction, won’t ever say such things. Because this is not in their jurisdiction. If Modi is the chief minister of a state, he can’t do such things. The Central government will do what is in its ambit. A state government will do whatever is in its ambit. But fooling the people is a trend nowadays – to keep them in the dark. That’s why they keep saying anything at all.”
The CAA was passed by Parliament in December 2019 which provides a path to Indian citizenship for illegal migrants belonging to six religious minority communities – Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian – from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who entered India on or before 31 December, 2014.
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