Jammu, Jan 20: The Congress on Friday said that Article 370, granting special status to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, was revoked by the BJP-led government in an undemocratic manner. The party also said that the Bharatiya Janata Party did nothing for the people of J&K in the last eight years.

“On August 5, 2019, the bill for revocation of Article 370 was introduced and passed in the Parliament in an undemocratic way by the BJP-led government,” senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said while addressing a press conference at Chadwal, Kathua, on the sidelines of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra which entered J&K on Thursday evening.

Replying to a question, Ramesh said the bill for repealing Article 370 was introduced and passed without holding any discussion. “We are against making Jammu & Kashmir as a Union Territory (UT) and want that J&K be given the Statehood,” he said, adding, “There are many states in India like Tripura, Mizoram, Goa, parts of Karnataka and some others which have been given special provisions under Article 371 of the Indian Constitution.”

Jairam Ramesh, who was flanked by J&K Congress Incharge Rajni Patil, JKPCC President Vikar Rasool, senior Congress leader, Digvijay Singh and JKPCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Jamwal, also castigated former senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad for floating the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP).

In reply to another question, the senior Congress leader said, “Azad’s party is a B team of the BJP. His party is finishing fast and the people who left Congress and joined his party are now coming back.”

Hitting out at the ruling party, Ramesh said, “There is a political dictatorship in India and the policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah has failed in J&K. There is social and economic inequality in India due to policies of PM Modi.”

On the occasion, Vikar Rasool said the BJP “committed cruelties” on the people of J&K. “First the BJP made J&K a UT, and now, daily wagers, Rehbar-e-Khel and others are on roads in support of their demands and in turn are getting lathis. There is a tsunami of inflation,” he said.

PVC awardee Capt Bana Singh joins Bharat Jodo Yatra

Param Veer Chakra (PVC) awardee Capt Bana Singh on Friday joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) which started from Hatli Morh, Kathua.

Capt Bana Singh was awarded Param Veer Chakra for his exceptional bravery in Siachen in 1988 against the Pakistan Army. Capt Bana Singh interacted with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for around 40 minutes and also walked along with him. A delegation of ex-servicemen also met Rahul on Friday.