Time to reflect on Article 370: union minister

Union minister Hansraj Ahir on Monday said it was time to reflect on the continuance of the constitution's article 370 which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at an event to mark the 115th birth anniversary of Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, he said it was time to "free Kashmir" and "make it a part of India without any limitations".

"It was because of Mookerjee's sacrifice that Kashmir is an integral part of India. But time now has come for us to reflect on how long article 370 will continue to be in force," said Ahir, the minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers.

"It's high time to decide how long our constitution and other laws will continue to be not applicable in Kashmir.

"It's time for us to think how can be free Kashmir and make it a part of the country as rest of the states are. We need to draw inspiration from Mookerjee and resolve to make Kashmir an integral part without any kind of limitations," said Ahir, who is also a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.