New Delhi: The Congress, which is already in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, has been left red-faced with Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s drastic move to repeal Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, with a glaring split in the party out in the open.
The BJP government Monday introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill in the Rajya Sabha that proposed abrogation of Article 370, which accorded special status to the state, and Article 35A, while also bifurcating the state into two union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
By the end of Monday and despite vocal opposition from several quarters, the BJP managed to get the bill passed in the Upper House where it does not have the necessary numbers.
In the House, the Congress was vehement in its opposition to the move.
“Today BJP has murdered the constitution as well as democracy through the scrapping of Article 370. The very article that gave special status to J&K and linked it to the country has today been done away with mercilessly,” Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in Parliament.
His colleague and former Union minister P. Chidambaram termed it a “constitutional monstrosity”.
Also read: Kejriwal is no longer a Modi basher — him backing J&K decisions was only expected
Both old and young in Congress voiced disagreement
The Congress may have decided to adopt a stand in the House and even issue a whip, but several of its leaders — old as well as young — hardly seem to be convinced.
The resignation of its Rajya Sabha MP and chief whip Bhubaneshwar Kalita expressing opposition to the party’s stand on the government’s move was only the beginning of what was going to be a series of embarrassment for the Congress.
Senior leader Janardan Dwivedi, a known Gandhi family loyalist, supported the Modi government’s decision to revoke Article 370. “It is a very old issue. After Independence, many freedom fighters did not want Article 370 to remain,” he said.
Kalita and Dwivedi were not alone in voicing their differences. There were several others too.
Congress leader from Haryana and former MP Deepender Hooda said: “I’ve always maintained that #Article370 should be scrapped. It has no place in the 21st century.”
Rahul Gandhi’s silence added to confusion
Former MP Milind Deora, who offered to resign as Mumbai Congress chief after Rahul Gandhi quit as party president, disagreed as well.
“Very unfortunate that Article 370 is being converted into a liberal vs conservative debate. Parties should put aside ideological fixations & debate what’s best for India’s sovereignty & federalism, peace in J&K, jobs for Kashmiri youth & justice for Kashmiri Pandits,” he tweeted.
Very unfortunate that Article 370 is being converted into a liberal vs conservative debate.
Parties should put aside ideological fixations & debate what’s best for India’s sovereignty & federalism, peace in J&K, jobs for Kashmiri youth & justice for Kashmiri Pandits.
— Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) August 5, 2019
Both Maharashtra and Haryana will go to polls later this year.
Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also took to Twitter to voice his disagreement, but added that consent of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was necessary.
“My Personal Point of View: I support abrogation of Art 370 (as opening words say it’s temporary) but Only & Only in accordance with provisions & methodology provided by the Constitution of India which mandates consent of J&K State Assembly -any other way is Unconstitutional,” he said.
Rajasthan’s Ashok Chandna tweeted that this was “the first move by this government that he welcomes”.
यह मेरी निजी राय है, जम्मू-कश्मीर में अनुच्छेद 370 हटाना सरकार का पहला फैसला है जिसका मैं स्वागत करता हूँ।
लेकिन 370 बदलने का क्रियान्वरण तानाशाही से ना होकर शांति और विश्वास के माहौल में होकर इसका अच्छे से निस्तारण हो ताकि भविष्य में देश के किसी नागरिक को कोई समस्या ना होl
— Ashok Chandna (@AshokChandnaINC) August 6, 2019
Rae Bareli MLA Aditi Singh has also supported the Modi government’s decision.
The divisions in the party on a crucial issue like this come at a time when it is completely rudderless following its humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, followed by a leadership crisis at the top. Rahul Gandhi is yet to issue a statement on the contentious move, thus adding to the confusion.
Also read: Modi’s Kashmir move is biggest test for Indian democracy – and for the silent liberals