Political Tensions Rise on the Seventh Anniversary of Article 370 Abrogation

New Delhi, August 5: The political discourse has intensified on the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The ruling party hailed it as a symbol of national unity and development, while the opposition reiterated its demand for restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that Articles 370 and 35A were discriminatory and unjust provisions. Prime Minister Modi abolished them on August 5, 2019. Since then, development in Jammu and Kashmir has accelerated. Both heritage and progress have been promoted. Employment opportunities have increased, and for the first time, significant infrastructure development has been witnessed. The local populace is content, except for a few political parties pursuing their agendas.

BJP MP Damodar Agrawal described the move as a significant step towards national unity. He remarked, “Despite being an integral part of India, Jammu and Kashmir was isolated due to Article 370. Today, we can proudly and confidently say that the removal of 370 is a major achievement for our national unity.”

In response to PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti’s remarks about disrespecting the national flag, BJP MP Sat Sharma criticized her. He stated, “Mehbooba Mufti once claimed that if Article 370 was removed, no one would raise the tricolor. How can we expect such individuals to respect our national flag? While it may not matter to them, disrespecting the tricolor is a serious issue. Authorities should take appropriate legal action.”

Meanwhile, Congress MP P. Santosh Kumar noted, “Today marks the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of 370. The government had promised to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The Supreme Court has also intervened in this matter, yet statehood has not been reinstated. We demand that the government take steps in this direction.”

MDMK MP Durai Vaiko criticized the decision to revoke 370 as anti-democratic. He stated, “This is a matter of undermining constitutional rights. I believe this is a significant injustice. As part of the opposition, Congress and other parties also oppose this decision, and we have consistently raised this issue in Parliament.”

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