BJP softens on Article 370, Modi seeks debate on special status for Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu: BJP on Sunday appeared to soften its stand for scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir with its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi saying there should be at least a debate on whether or not it has benefited the state.

Addressing his first rally in Jammu and Kashmir after being named the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate, Modi said his party wanted a discussion on various aspects of the constitutional provision.

He also echoed the views expressed by BJP President Rajnath Singh, who earlier even told the 'Lalkar' rally that if Article 370 proved to be beneficial, his party would stand by the measure.

"As per Constitution, the debate will continue whether the Article 370 will end or continue-- at least there should be debate whether Article 370 has benefitted J&K or not," the Gujarat Chief Minister said.

The views of Modi and Singh marked a departure from BJP's position seeking complete abrogation of the provision giving special status to J-K in the Union of India.

At the same time, Modi said the former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru had said that Article 370 will go with the time. "Will Congress go with the Nehru's statement-- I want to question PM?"

"Article 370 has been used as a shield in Jammu and Kashmir for resorting to communalism-- experts of the Constitution should debate over it, he added. Referring to the provision, Modi said that women had not been given equal rights in the state unlike in other parts of the country.

"If Omar (Abdullah) married outside Kashmir, his rights of being a citizen remain whereas his sister Sara loses the right for the same. Is this not discrimination against the women in the state," he asked, while referring to the Chief Minister's family.

He accused the state government of indulging in corruption and claimed tht the Prevention of Corruption Act is applicable everywhere other than J and K.

"For 60 years they talked about separate state (autonomy) but what did people get? Nothing and there is no accountability also...In the name of separate state, they encouraged separatism. It would have been better if they focused on creating a super state," he said.

Modi also spoke about "non-implmentation" of the 73rd Amendment providing financial powers to Panchayats and took a veiled dig at the ruling National Conference, saying, "Those who talk about autonomy are not ready to provide the same to their own elected local bodies."

Even though data show that the state had been receiving record number of tourists, the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate claimed that tourism in the state had been suffering.

"Tourism is suffering here. Tourists are going to Himachal Pradesh. Saundarya aur Shradha ke liye acha tourism hai yahan par (J and K is a good place for natural beauty and religious tourism)," he said.

Modi referred to Bollywood celebrating its 100 years and said, "A lot of films were shot here. Why could J and K not get a film institute? Sadly they are not interested in development and progress."

He also said that why can't the government consider a route to Kailash Mansarovar from Leh in order to boost the tourism in Ladakh region.

Modi also said BJP would carry forward the initiatives in the state on the principles of 'Insaniyat(humanity), Jamhuriyat(democracy)and Kashmiriyat(composite secular Kashmiri culture)' as envisioned by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Earlier, BJP President Rajnath Singh told the rally that that his party would raise in Parliament the issue of the border agreement reached with China.