The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on April 8 called for complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the country by declaring that it will abrogate Articles 370 and 35A and said it will have zero tolerance against terrorism and extremism and called for free hand to Security Forces (SFs) in combating terrorism, reports Daily Excelsior. It announced expeditious completion of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in other parts of the country as there has been a huge change in cultural and linguistic identity of some areas due to illegal immigration. The 45-page manifesto released by BJP announced creation of development and other necessary infrastructure in border areas to strengthen border security. “We reiterate our position since the time of Jan Sangh to abrogation of Article 370. We are also committed to annulling Article 35A of the Constitution of India as the provision is discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir,” the BJP manifesto said in a special chapter `Nation First’, dedicated to national security, welfare of soldiers, countering infiltration, modernization of police forces and related issues.
Meanwhile, National Conference (NC) president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on April 8 said that abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution will pave way for “freedom” for people of Jammu and Kashmir and asked the BJP try joining the hearts and not break them, reports Daily Excelsior. “They talk of abrogating Article 370. If you do that, the accession will also not stand. I swear by Allah, I think this is the wish of Almighty, we will get freedom from them,” Abdullah, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Srinagar constituency, said at an election rally in Srinagar. The former chief minister also said there would not be anyone to hoist the national flag in Kashmir if Article 370 is abrogated.