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Time not ripe to change Art 370: Advani
Chandigarh, Mar 25: Two days ahead of the Centre`s latest round of talks with the Hurriyat Conference, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said it is not an appropriate time to change Article 370.
Chandigarh, Mar 25: Two days ahead of the Centre's latest round of talks with the Hurriyat Conference, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said it is not an appropriate time to change Article 370.
The article grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Advani's electoral strategy through the Bharat Uday Yatra has been to compare the NDA leadership with Sonia Gandhi.
"If Sonia Gandhi was not projected as the prime minister in 1999, the Congress would have come to power," said Advani.
Accusing the party of "scare-mongering," he said, "Since 1947, the Congress has viewed the Muslim community as a block vote and developed a vested interest in keeping them backward, frightened and aloof."
"The party also prevented the community from sharing the benefits of economic development," he added.
However, Advani refused to commit himself to bringing a legislation that could bar people of foreign origin from holding high offices.
"George could raise it and it will be discussed in the NDA," said the Deputy Prime Minister, who is in Punjab on his Bharat Uday Yatra.
Appealing to the minority voters, the Deputy Prime Minister said: "Indian Muslims have a major role to play in making India a developed economy and a global power by 2020. And I believe the NDA under Vajpayee can be the facilitator of this process."
Advani further claimed the community had been exposed to a sustained campaign of hate against the Jan Sangh and the BJP.
"Our political opponents have painted us as anti-minority. But a greater willingness of the Muslim community to engage with the BJP, stems from our six year record in the government," he held. Bureau Report
The article grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Advani's electoral strategy through the Bharat Uday Yatra has been to compare the NDA leadership with Sonia Gandhi.
"If Sonia Gandhi was not projected as the prime minister in 1999, the Congress would have come to power," said Advani.
Accusing the party of "scare-mongering," he said, "Since 1947, the Congress has viewed the Muslim community as a block vote and developed a vested interest in keeping them backward, frightened and aloof."
"The party also prevented the community from sharing the benefits of economic development," he added.
However, Advani refused to commit himself to bringing a legislation that could bar people of foreign origin from holding high offices.
"George could raise it and it will be discussed in the NDA," said the Deputy Prime Minister, who is in Punjab on his Bharat Uday Yatra.
Appealing to the minority voters, the Deputy Prime Minister said: "Indian Muslims have a major role to play in making India a developed economy and a global power by 2020. And I believe the NDA under Vajpayee can be the facilitator of this process."
Advani further claimed the community had been exposed to a sustained campaign of hate against the Jan Sangh and the BJP.
"Our political opponents have painted us as anti-minority. But a greater willingness of the Muslim community to engage with the BJP, stems from our six year record in the government," he held. Bureau Report