Union Minister Slams Opposition Over Article 370 Misguidance

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal criticizes the opposition for misleading Jammu and Kashmir residents about Article 370. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also condemns their promises for its restoration. The third phase of J&K Assembly elections has concluded amid passionate debates and high-profile campaigners.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has criticized the Opposition, stating they cannot reinstate Article 370 and accusing them of misguiding the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the matter. "They (the opposition) can't bring it again (Article 370). They are just misguiding people; the way they did during the Lok Sabha elections by saying that we (the BJP) will finish the constitution. How can the Constitution be finished? Good governance and development--these are the two agendas, based on which we are contesting and will win this election," Meghwal told reporters here.

While Congress is silent on Article 370, its alliance partner, the National Conference, promised restoration of the Article in its manifesto. Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370, which gave special status to J-K on August 5, 2019.

Addressing a public rally in Gurez in the Bandipore area on Sunday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticized the National Conference for promising the restoration of Article 370. "Only the Central Government has the authority to bring it back. After the removal of Article 370, people enthusiastically participated in the elections. This is the message of change in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, the national flag is being hoisted at Srinagar's Lal Chowk. Today, record numbers of tourists are visiting Kashmir. Kashmir is no longer a terrorist hotspot but a tourism hotspot. Here, two political families only focused on politics. They ruled here for a long time," he said.

"Today, the youth here are holding computers, not stones. IIM, IIT, and National Colleges will be established here. NC-Congress and PDP have only looted here. They did nothing for the people, only secured their families," Rajnath added. The high-stakes campaigning for the third and final phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections concluded on Sunday evening with voting set to take place for 40 constituencies in the third phase.

Of the 40 constituencies, 24 fall under the Jammu division and the remaining in Kashmir. This election marks the first one in a decade and the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

The three-phase election is witnessing a multi-cornered fight for the 90 seats across the erstwhile state. While the National Conference and the Congress are fighting the elections in an alliance, the People's Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are the two other major players.

Major political parties, especially the BJP, Congress, NC, and PDP, have been involved in heated debates over key issues including Pakistan, Article 370, terrorism, and reservation, all through the days of campaigning. High-profile leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah (BJP), Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, and former J-K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, were on the ground for weeks.

(With inputs from agencies.)