‘How many Pandits did you bring back to Kashmir?’: Congress attacks Amit Shah

Congress attacks Amit Shah over Article 370 promises

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the promises he made to the people before the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s comments came after bill to replace an ordinance to merge the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) cadre of civil services officers with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13.

Raising objections on the bill, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asked "what was the need to bring an ordinance for this?".

While launching his attack at the Modi government in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stressed that the dreams which the government had shown after the abrogation of Article 370 remain unfulfilled.

Attacking the BJP's poll promises, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "You didn't succeed in giving 200-300 acres of land to Pandits. In your election manifesto, you'd promised that you will bring back Pandits. Did you succeed? You should at least say, 'raat gayi to baat gayi, election gaya to vaada gaya'. You should clarify your stand."

Speaking against the bill, Hasnain Masoodi (J&K NC) said this bill is akin to an assault on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "You are continuously increasing confusion…What is the objective of this bill? …You are taking Jammu and Kashmir towards uncertainty through this bill.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Lok Sabha and assured the House that Jammu and Kashmir would get back its “statehood at an appropriate time”.

In August 2019, the Union Government abrogated Article 370 which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.