JAMMU, Jul 16: Senior BJP leader and former Minister Bali Bhagat on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, National Conference (NC) and senior Congress leader Prof. Saifuddin Soz, alleging that their recent statements on Article 370 have exposed their “hidden political agenda” and created confusion over the Congress party’s stand on Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to Soz’s reported remarks advocating the restoration of Article 370 and suggesting that the ongoing statehood movement should also include the demand for its revival, Bhagat said the Congress now stands “completely exposed” before the people of the country. Recent public statements by Soz calling for the restoration of Article 370 have also triggered criticism from BJP leaders at the national level.
Bhagat said that Article 370 was never a permanent constitutional arrangement but a temporary provision, and that its abrogation on August 5, 2019, completed the process of full constitutional integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.
“Those dreaming of bringing back Article 370 are misleading the people. That chapter has been closed forever. Jammu and Kashmir is an inseparable part of India and no political party can reverse this historic constitutional decision,” Bhagat said.
Launching a sharp attack on the National Conference, Bhagat alleged that the party was attempting to use the demand for restoration of statehood as a political platform to gradually revive the Article 370 narrative.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir want peace, development, investment and employment. Unfortunately, the National Conference is trying to convert the legitimate issue of statehood into a vehicle for reviving the politics of separatist sentiment and emotional blackmail,” he alleged.
Referring to the proposed July 20 protest over statehood, Bhagat claimed that recent developments—including calls from some leaders to link the agitation with Article 370—have exposed the “real intent” behind the campaign. Public reactions following the protest call have reflected renewed political divisions over whether the movement should also seek restoration of Article 370.
The BJP leader further alleged that Article 370 had created “a constitutional barrier” between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country.
“Article 370 encouraged separatist thinking by promoting a separate political identity. Instead of integrating Jammu and Kashmir completely with the national mainstream, it strengthened forces that questioned national unity,” Bhagat claimed.
He further alleged that decades of militancy had inflicted enormous suffering on the people of Jammu and Kashmir and accused the Congress and National Conference of pursuing policies that, according to him, encouraged separatist politics. These are political allegations made by Bhagat.
Bhagat also accused both parties of being “uncomfortable with the return of normalcy” in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Tourism is growing, development projects are moving ahead, democratic institutions are functioning and investment is coming into the region. Instead of supporting this progress, Congress and the National Conference continue to rake up issues that divide people for electoral gains,” he alleged.
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have repeatedly rejected “the politics of fear and division” and will not support any attempt to reopen settled constitutional questions.
Warning against any attempt to disturb peace, Bhagat said the Narendra Modi-led government would deal firmly with anyone trying to create instability or disturb law and order.
“The Modi Government has made it clear that there will be zero tolerance towards separatism, terrorism or any attempt to disturb the hard-earned peace in Jammu and Kashmir. The law will take its course against anyone trying to push the region back into uncertainty,” Bhagat said.
Appealing to the people to remain vigilant, Bhagat said the future of Jammu and Kashmir lies in development, democratic governance and national integration, not in what he described as “divisive politics based on the revival of Article 370.”
Bhagat claimed that Prof. Saifuddin Soz was merely articulating what the Congress leadership truly believes. He alleged that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were backing Soz’s remarks and accused the Congress of attempting to revive the Article 370 narrative through proxy statements while officially projecting only the demand for statehood. He challenged the Congress leadership to clarify whether it supported Soz’s stand or was distancing itself from it.