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The RSS sees the removal of Article 370 as a significant ideological victory. (PTI file)
Jammu and Kashmir elections: After Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the abrogation of Article 370, and the way he mentioned the RSS in his speech, one of the senior joint general secretaries of the Sangh said that the Congress leaders “forgot. their own actions”
Article 370 – the provision of the Constitution that gives special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) – is meaningless, and no state government can reverse it, regardless of who is in power, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) veterans, who reacted swiftly. . a statement made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his recent visit to the region.
Jammu and Kashmir is now witnessing its first assembly elections since the abrogation of article 370 and after the dissolution of the state. A senior Congress leader, while attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for “abandoning statehood”, also criticized the RSS for the role the organization is playing in the region.
Following Gandhi’s recent criticism of the abrogation of Article 370, and the way he mentioned the RSS in his speeches, one of the Sangh’s senior joint general secretaries said the Congress leader had “forgotten his own actions”. A trip to Kashmir last year, where he was seen playing in the snow with his sister Priyanka, has led to a deeper conversation about his understanding of the reality of the region.
The senior official said, “Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka playing in the snow of Kashmir is a beautiful picture, but when was the last time they experienced such freedom? Has he or his family ever roamed without the police in the area? This is possible only because Article 370 has been revoked.” Gandhi should think twice before speaking against the national interest, and he should also not forget his actions a few months ago.The Kashmir issue is beyond politics and elections – which is close to Pakistan needs serious attention, not a political game.
Why polls in J&K are so important for RSS
The RSS sees the removal of Article 370 as a significant ideological victory. For decades, the organization and its affiliates have argued that Article 370 is a symbol of separatism and a broken Indian identity. The cancellation in 2019 marks an important step in the mission to integrate J&K fully into the Union of India, where no region is treated differently on the basis of religion or historical concessions, a senior member of the RSS central committee said.
“We have a historical relationship with the country that includes the death of Jan Sangh founder Shyamprasad Mookherjee, his movement, the close border access to Pakistan and the incident of Kashmiri Pandits fleeing the region. For the RSS, this is one of the highest elections,” the member said. mentioned.
Highlighting its historical ties with Jammu & Kashmir, the RSS-BJP combine is committed to restoring the homeland of the Kashmiri Pandits and making independent efforts to strengthen the BJP’s foothold in the valley. “Despite this, there are speculations about the Congress-National Conference bloc coming to power, we are still hopeful about independent candidates getting good numbers. With the BJP winning some seats in the valley, there is room to have a coalition government there,” he said. .
“Kashmir has known how this dynastic family has treated Kashmir for decades. Look at its history, how the party was established there. It was established as the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in 1932 in the princely state, only to change its name to the National Conference seven years later in 1939. They still do not represent all of Kashmir,” said another senior RSS functionary.
