Article 370 Kashmir: Scrapping of this article has been a part of the BJP's core ideology
Highlights
- A young Narendra Modi is seen sitting on what appears to be a stage
- Behind him is a banner, part of it reads: "Remove 370, end terrorism..."
- Article 370 of the constitution grants special status to J&K
Shortly after Home Minister Amit Shah announced the scrapping of the contentious Article 370 in parliament today, BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav made a dramatic statement on Twitter, posting an old photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an Article 370 event with the message: "Promise fulfilled".
In the undated photograph, a young Narendra Modi is seen sitting on what appears to be a stage, with his left arm resting on cusions. In the background, there is a banner; part of it reads, "Remove 370, end terrorism..."
Earlier, Mr Madhav, 54, had tweeted "what a glorious day", saying that a "seven decade old demand of d entire nation (was) being realised in front of our eyes".
"What a glorious day. Finally d martyrdom of thousands starting with Dr Shyam Prasad Mukharjee for compete integration of J&K into Indian Union is being honoured and d seven decade old demand of d entire nation being realised in front of our eyes; in our life time.Ever imagined?" Mr Madhav's said.
Article 370 of the constitution, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has been removed, Home Minister Amit Shah said in parliament today, adding that President Ram Nath Kovind had signed an order that would come into force "at once". Jammu and Kashmir will also be "reorganised," the Home Minister added, with the state's bifurcation into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The announcement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting of his cabinet at his house this morning.
In June, Ram Madhav had reiterated the PM Modi-led government's commitment to repealing Article 370, insisting the contentious legislation had to go "lock stock and barrel".
"As far as 370 is concerned, our ideological commitment is well known. Article 370 has to go lock stock and barrel as the Home Minister (Amit Shah) clearly mentioned yesterday (in Parliament)," Mr Madhav told news agency ANI.
However, at the time Mr Madhav also said the removal of Article 370 would take time since "certain procedures had to be followed".
Former union ministers Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj also tweeted.
Mr Jaitley, 66, congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah for correcting a "historical blunder" and calling it a "monumental decision towards national integration".
Former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj, 67, said this was a "bold and historic decision" and also said "We salute our Great India - one India".
The scrapping of Article 370 has been a part of the BJP's core ideology, carried over since the days of Jan Sangh. It was a key point in the party's election manifesto that was released ahead of Lok Sabha polls in April-May.
"We reiterate our position since the time of the Jan Sangh to the abrogation of Article 370. We are committed to annulling Article 35A of the Constitution of India as the provision is discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe that Article 35A is an obstacle in the development of the state," the manifesto read.