Bring back Article 370 when in power, Shah dares Pawar, Rahul

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar to bring back Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir if they ever return to power.

Addressing a poll rally in Rajura seat here, Shah said the Congress, NCP and other opposition parties did not abrogate provisions of Article 370 due to vote-bank politics.

Article 370 had become the "gateway for terrorists" in the last 70 years, leading to 40,000 killings in J-K, he claimed.

He said the Narendra Modi government was elected with a bigger mandate in 2019 because people had full faith in his leadership and development works carried out by the Centre.

"I am throwing a direct challenge to Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar to restore Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir after coming to power," he said.

He said the Congress, despite ruling the country for "70 years" had done nothing for Adivasis and Other Backward Castes, while the BJP government at the Centre had launched a slew of schemes for their welfare.

Vote for the BJP as it stood for development, while parties like Congress and NCP were centred around families, he exhorted the gathering.

The state goes to poll on October 21 while results will be declared on October 24.