New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack at the Congress over Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks on Article 370 and said that the statement has once again made it clear that grand old party and Pakistan have the same “intentions and agenda”. The Pakistan minister in an interview said that his country and Congress-National Conference alliance are on the same page on the issue of restoration of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hitting out at the Congress, Shah in a post on X said that the party has always been hand in glove with the anti-national forces and its leader Rahul Gandhi has time and again supported anti-India forces. He also asserted that Article 370 which was abrogated in August 2019 will be never be restored under the Modi government.
“Pakistan’s Defence Minister’s statement about Congress and NC’s support on Article 370 and 35A has once again exposed Congress. This statement has once again made it clear that Congress and Pakistan have the same intentions and agenda. For the last few years, Rahul Gandhi has been standing with every anti-India force, hurting the sentiments of the countrymen,” Shah said.
He further said that be it asking for proof of air strikes and surgical strikes or making objectionable remarks about the Indian Army, the tune of Congress and Pakistan has always been the same. “Congress has always been hand in glove with the anti-national forces. But, Congress party and Pakistan forget that there is Modi government at the Center, hence neither Article 370 nor terrorism is going to come back in Kashmir,” he asserted.
The National Conference which is contesting the Jammu and Kashmir elections in alliance with the Congress has been pushing for restoration of Article 370. In its election manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir polls, the Farooq Abdullah-led party has promised to restore Article 370 if voted to power. Though Congress’ poll manifesto has not included any such promise, the party has been pitching for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Earlier, Shah had sought Congress’ stand on its alliance partner NC’s poll promise of restoring Article 370 and asked if it wants to push Jammu and Kashmir back into “an era of unrest and terrorism.”
