Farooq Abdullah's commentary on Jammu and Kashmir, set against the backdrop of the Supreme Court's recent verdict affirming the annulment of Article 370, elicited a robust reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The National Conference leader, Farooq Abdullah, stirred controversy on Tuesday with his assertion outside Parliament, expressing that "Jammu and Kashmir should go to hell."
In a video, Abdullah conveyed, "Jammu Kashmir jahannum me jaye (should go to hell). What else should I say? You (central government) have taken the state there. You want to win people's hearts. How will you win hearts if you do things that draw people further away?" This statement followed the Supreme Court's validation of the 2019 revocation of Article 370, which accorded special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP swiftly responded to Abdullah's remarks, with Shehzad Poonwalla urging the INDIA bloc to condemn the comments. He criticized Abdullah's stance, linking it to the broader INDI alliance's desire to reinstate Article 370, despite the transformative impact it had on the region.
Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP IT Cell, also took a swipe at Abdullah for his comments on Jammu and Kashmir. In a tweet, he expressed disapproval of Abdullah's perspective and its implications on the region's political landscape.
In a subsequent video shared by news agency ANI, Farooq Abdullah reiterated his sentiments, asserting that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was not conducive to prosperity. He questioned the absence of elections in the state and challenged the government's assertion that terrorism had been eradicated.
Abdullah emphasized the need for mutual trust between the central government and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He recounted a conversation with the Prime Minister where he highlighted the prevailing emotional and geographical distances. Despite assurances from the Prime Minister to bridge these gaps, Abdullah expressed skepticism about the progress made, maintaining that the responsibility rested not only on the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also on the government to foster goodwill.
The Supreme Court's unanimous decision on Monday to uphold the abrogation of Article 370 marked a significant legal development. The court mandated assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September-end and emphasized the restoration of statehood "at the earliest" in its three concurring judgments.
