Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has unequivocally declared that Article 370, which formerly granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir under the Indian Constitution, is “dead” and will not be reinstated. His remarks came during a rally held ahead of the assembly elections in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Addressing the crowd, Shah described Article 370 as a “part of history” that would never return. He criticized opposition parties, particularly the National Conference and Congress, for their attempts to restore Article 370 and its companion provision, Article 35-A. Shah claimed that these laws had only fueled violence in the region, stating, “It brought nothing but guns and stones into the hands of Kashmir’s youth.”
Shah also reiterated India’s stance on Pakistan, asserting that no dialogue would take place until “terrorism from across the border was addressed.” He emphasized, “Talks and bombs cannot coexist. While we will not negotiate with Pakistan, we are committed to reaching out to the youth of Kashmir, offering them a path toward peace and development.”
The comments come in the lead-up to the Assembly elections in IIOJK, the first since 2014, which are anticipated to provide a significant gauge of public sentiment in the region. Shah urged voters to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), contending that the abrogation of Article 370 has led to “increased peace, prosperity, and development” in the region.
Highlighting what he termed a “golden era” in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah pointed to a substantial reduction in terror-related incidents. He reported a “70% reduction,” with cases dropping from 7,217 between 2004 and 2014 to 2,272 from 2014 to 2024.
Shah concluded, “These 10 years, from 2014 to 2024, will be remembered as a golden era in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.”
