On April 06, New Delhi, Union Minister of Home and Cooperation Amit Shah asserted that every state and citizen has a right in Jammu and Kashmir, just as the residents of J&K have rights over the rest of India in response to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s criticism on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning the revocation of certain constitutional privileges under Article 370 during a rally in Churu, Rajasthan.
Mallikarjun Kharge remarked, “We heard PM Modi boasting about the abrogation of Article 371 from Jammu and Kashmir here in Churu. What relevance does it have to the people here? Let him go to Jammu and Kashmir and discuss it.”
Amit Shah’s fierce resonse
In a strong rebuttal, the Union Minister corrected the Congress president, stating that it was not “Article 371” but “Article 370” that was revoked by the Modi government. He emphasized that every state and citizen holds a stake in J&K, just as the people of J&K have a stake in the rest of India.
It is shameful to hear that the Congress party is asking, “Kashmir se kya waasta hai?”
I would like to remind the Congress party that J&K is an integral part of India, and every state and citizen has the right over J&K, just as the people of J&K have the right over the rest of… pic.twitter.com/cFeO80XBxl
— Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) April 6, 2024
Focusing on the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an “integral” part of the country, Amit Shah also highlighted the sacrifices made by the “brave sons of Rajasthan” for the “peace and security” of the region.
“The Congress doesn’t realize that many courageous sons of Rajasthan have laid down their lives for peace and security in Kashmir. However, it’s not solely the fault of Congress leaders. The predominant Italian culture within the Congress party is responsible for their failure to grasp the essence of India. Such remarks are detrimental to every patriotic citizen concerned about the unity and integrity of our nation. The people will undoubtedly respond to Congress,” Shah stated on his official X handle, alongside a video clip of Kharge’s statement.
Expanding on Kharge’s misquotation of “Article 371” instead of Article 370, which the Centre revoked, Shah replied, “It’s typical of Congress to commit such egregious errors. Such blunders by the party have plagued our nation for decades.”
In response, Congress’s Rajasthan president Govind Singh Dotasra told ANI, “Churu, Jhunjhunu, and Sekhawati are regions dominated by farmers. What benefit would it bring to the farmers here if the PM discussed the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir? People are demanding education, employment, quality healthcare, and development. Mere rhetoric and grandiose statements won’t suffice.”
Congress Reaction
Congress has defended Kharge’s statement, asserting that he “inadvertently” revealed the alleged game plan of Modi and Shah regarding Article 371. Meanwhile, during his Jaipur speech, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh countered the BJP’s criticism, claiming that Kharge simply misspoke and meant to reference Article 370, not Article 371.
Jairam Ramesh on X stated, “Today by a slip of the tongue in his speech in Jaipur, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji mistakenly said that Modi claims credit for abolishing Article 371. Kharge ji clearly meant Article 370.”
He further added, “Amit Shah immediately pounced on the Congress President. But the truth is that Modi does indeed want to change Article 371-A relating to Nagaland, Article 371-B relating to Assam, Article 371-C relating to Manipur, Article 371-F relating to Sikkim, Article 371-G relating to Mizoram, and Article 371-H relating to Arunachal Pradesh”.
Today by a slip of the tongue in his speech in Jaipur, @INCIndia President Mallikarjun Kharge ji mistakenly said that Modi claims credit for abolishing Article 371. Kharge ji clearly meant Article 370.
Amit Shah immediately pounced on the Congress President. But the truth is…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 6, 2024
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