Modi should clarify party's stand on Article 370: Cong

The Cong said BJP has taken a 360-degree turn over its ideological issue of Article 370

Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP of "taking a 360-degree turn" on Article 370 and said they should clarify their stand on the issue before the people of Jammu and Kashmir as well as rest of India.

"PM and BJP has taken a 360-degree turn over its ideological issue of Article 370. Prime Minister and BJP should tell people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country its stand on Article 370. They should clarify their stand," AICC spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjiwala told reporters here.

"For the last 67 years, BJP had been harping on stamping out Article 370. Its top leaders former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy PM L K Advani and others have even put their stamp of approval on it from time to time," he said.

"Even Union Minister in PMO Jitendra Singh, soon after the formation of new government, had reiterated that Article 370 will be scrapped," he said.

"Later their was a U-turn in their stand and they called for holding dialogue on Article 370," Surjiwala said, adding that they did not specify the time frame or the model of debate and its legal context.

Even Union Minister Rajnath Singh tried to put the issue in cold storage and BJP has observed silence over it, he alleged.

"Modi addressed three election rallies in J&K, but observed total silence on Article 370. We question Modi and BJP about their stand on it and they should answer over the issue before the people of the country," he said.

Alleging that BJP is "hobnobbing with separatists", Surjiwala said, "People need answers. They should come out and tell the people their stand on it."

He also sought a reply from the Modi government on rejection of the package for rehabilitation of PoK refugees sent by the state government.

"They should tell the people how are they going to rehabilitate refugees," he said.

Attacking the Centre over ceasefire violations by Pakistan that have claimed lives of civilians and security men, Surjiwala said the Modi government should clear its policy on security of the people along the border.

Questioning Centre on the diplomatic front in view of a defence cooperation agreement signed between Russia and Pakistan, Surjiwala said, "It has an immediate impact on J&K and government needs to focus on it."

The Congress spokesperson ruled out the possibility of alliance with any political party in the elections.