Article 370: Nehru made Jammu and Kashmir part of India, says Congress

A day after Modi government scrapped Article-370 of the Constitution that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir through presidential notification, Congress lashed out at BJP in Parliament.

Ascribing accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India to efforts made by Nehru, Congress leader Manish Tiwari on Tuesday said it was Nehru government that made Jammu and Kashmir part of India.

Speaking in the Parliament, Tiwari said, “It was Jawaharlal Nehru’s government that made Jammu and Kashmir part of India by sending force to take on Pakistan… If today Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Jammu and Kashmir are part of India, it is because of Jawaharlal Nehru”.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday blamed the first Prime Minister for Kashmir problem.

“Sardar Patel dealt with Hyderabad and Junagadh, they are still with India without Article 370 and Nehru dealt with Jammu and Kashmir” said Shah while tabling the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill -2019.

Attacking BJP for the “wrong interpretation of the Constitution” Tiwari asserted that any changes in the Constitution can be made only with the consensus of the state government.

“According to the instrument of annexation, any changes in the Constitution can be made only with the consensus of the state government. In Jammu and Kashmir, where is the Constituent Assembly? Section 3 of the Constitution says consultation with assembly should be done before changing the boundaries of any state,” he said, adding there are various Articles in the Constitution other than the Article-370 that give special status to other states as well.

“Indian constitution does not have only Article 370. It also has Article 371 A to I. They provide special rights to Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Andhra, Sikkim etc. Today when you're scrapping Article 370, what message are you sending to these states?” questioned Tewari.

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said BJP violated all rules and converted a state into a Union Territory overnight. “I don't think you are thinking about PoK, you violated all rules and converted a state into a Union Territory overnight,” said Chowdhury.