BJP's manifesto promises to scrap Article 370: Is it a feasible solution?

The BJP in its manifesto said that it believes Article 370 of the Constitution is a hurdle in the development of the state. To this Jammu and Kashmir security expert, Pushp Saraf said that the party is only using this issue to garner vote.

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto released today has national security as one of its key aspects, among them is the proposal to scrap Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir. To know whether BJP's decision will benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir, ETV Bharat talked to Jammu and Kashmir security expert, Pushp Saraf, who said there is a need to discuss the issue rather than going ahead with its abrogation as and when BJP gets the majority.

Speaking on BJP's claim that Article 35A is an obstacle in the development of the state, the expert said it is only in the recent years that BJP has started raising questions on the relevance of Article 35A of the Indian constitution.

"Since Article 35A has survived so many years, to reject it overnight will not have proper impact on the state as this act protects the special status of the people of the state. At the moment, BJP is using this issue just to woo voters in the elections," said Pushp Saraf.

He also added that since both the cases are pending in the Supreme Court it will be better to wait for the verdict of the apex court and act accordingly.

Speaking on BJP's promise to bring back Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s due to militancy, Pushp said: "It's good that BJP wants to bring them back but do they want to come back, that's the main question and it seems doubtful."