Article 370 has become history, it will never return: Amit Shah

SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has become history and will not be restored. He said this after releasing the election manifesto in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Now Article 370 has become a thing of past, it is not a part of the constitution. I have read the agenda of NC and seen the silent support of NC, but I want to make it clear, that article 370 is a thing of past and it'll never return again, we will not let that happen. Article 370 was the thing that gave weapons and stones in the hands of the youth It's the spirit of separatism that used to force youth towards terrorism," Amit Shah said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, in its manifesto, mentioned the abrogation of Article 370 as one of the major achievements of the Narendra Modi government.

Amit Shah further emphasised that the Jammu and Kashmir has always beeen part of India and that the government is foucsed on fighting terrorism and seperatism.

"Our party believes that J&K has always been part of India and it will remain so. Till 2014, J&K always remain in the shadow of separatism and terrorism. Different state and non-state actors kept the state unstable. All the govt dealt with the state with a policy of appeasement. Whenever the history of J&K will be written, these ten years after 2014 will be marked as a golden period for the state." Amit Shah said.