While Modi Government’s bold move to effectively abolish Articles 370 and 35A and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir are winning them accolades from neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and UAE it has received mixed reactions from its political opponents.
While most members of the Congress including ex-president, Rahul Gandhi has been toeing the Pakistani line and speaking against the move there are few who have gone against their party’s stand to bat for this bold and pathbreaking decision taken by Modi led NDA government.
Amongst the most unexpected names, was that of Congress loyalist, Jyotiraditya Scindia who joined the list of those Congress leader’s who dared to go against their party’s regular habit of downplaying whatever BJP does and dared to voice their opinion in favour of the conscientious.
The former MP who was until now, being considered as the next face to represent the grand old party, took to Twitter to extend his support on the move of bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. Even though his support was also clubbed with a rider that it would have been better if the constitutional process had been followed, nevertheless, he extended his support saying that it was in the interest of the country.
I support the move on #JammuAndKashmir & #Ladakh and its full integration into union of India.
Would have been better if constitutional process had been followed. No questions could have been raised then. Nevertheless, this is in our country’s interest and I support this.
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) August 6, 2019
Amongst other’s were, Senior Congress leader Deepender Hooda who extended his support to stripping down of Article 370 saying that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and such a move will be beneficial to Kashmiris. His support had also come with riders that such a move should have been made by taking other political parties into confidence.
Another senior Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi, a close aide of former Congress President and currently UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, too went against the party’s stand and welcomed the move. Congress’ Rae Bareli MLA Aditi Singh, too, welcomed the move.
Moreover, Congress’ chief whip Bhubaneswar Kalita resigned from Rajya Sabha yesterday because he was upset over Congress’ stand to oppose Centre’s move to dilute Article 370. He stated that Congress’ stand on this issue was “against the people’s feelings” and that the party seemed “ hell-bent on political suicide.”
