Article 370 will be dealt later, peace in Valley a priority: Ahir

Abrogation of Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will happen in due course of time, but right now the priority is to bring normalcy and restore peace in the troubled state, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said on Monday.

Ahir, who was addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters in Panaji, also blamed the Congress for trying to make political capital on the issue of atrocities against Dalits, claiming there was only one such attack in Gujarat.

"Such Issues can be handled when time comes," he said, when asked by a media person as to whether the BJP, which is part of a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir and in office at the Centre, was ready to abolish Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.

"At this juncture peace in the valley is a priority," he said, adding that the demand of the BJP, right from the Jan Sangh days, to do away with Article 370 "will be dealt with at appropriate time and not now".

Commenting on the controversies surrounding atrocities against Dalits, Ahir said: "The Congress is trying to make much out of a one-off incident in Gujarat... But the government will take steps to ensure that the atrocities against Dalits are reduced."

--IANS

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