Mehbooba Mufti Seeks Clarity on Article 370 Stance from NC, Congress

Srinagar, Nov 16: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called for clarification from the Jammu and Kashmir government following Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent remarks regarding Article 370.

Kharge had stated that the Congress had never committed to restoring Article 370, an assertion made during a press conference in Pune on Thursday.

Addressing reporters in the Beerwah area of Budgam district, Mehbooba underscored the significance of Article 370 for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Article 370 is an emotional issue for the people here, deeply tied to their sentiments,” she said.
Kharge, in his Pune remarks, questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rhetoric on Article 370. “Amit Shah accuses the Congress of spreading lies and claims the Congress wants to restore Article 370. Tell me, who said this and when?” Kharge asked, emphasizing that the issue, resolved in Parliament, should not be used for political gains.

Mehbooba criticized the resolution passed by the ruling National Conference (NC) in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, which called on the Centre to explore mechanisms for restoring the special status of the region. She described the resolution as vague and lacking explicit reference to Article 370. “The NC and Congress government should clarify their stance. The resolution did not clearly address the restoration of Article 370 and seemed ambiguous,” she said.

She also called for stronger condemnation of the August 5, 2019 decision by the Centre to abrogate Article 370. “The resolution should have directly condemned the events of that day, but instead, it seemed like a surrender,” she remarked. Mehbooba further highlighted that Congress’s statement claiming the resolution was focused on statehood, not Article 370, has created confusion among the people.

The PDP chief urged the government to address these concerns and provide a clear stance on the matter.