Third historic mistake: Owaisi on govt move on Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir

Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi today launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government over its move to end special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Participating in a debate on the Jammu and Kashmir reorganisation bill, Owaisi called the move as "third historic mistake".

He counted the arrest of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah in 1953 by the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru government and the alleged rigging of 1987 assembly election in the state as the other two historic mistakes.

Owaisi said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has broken a constitutional promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by granting special status under Article 370. He said, "The BJP has definitely lived up to electoral promise in their manifesto, but you have not lived up to your constitutional duties. You've indulged in breach of a constitutional promise."

Referring to security clampdown in the Kashmir Valley ahead of Bakrid, Owaisi said, "What will happen on Eid? Eid is on Monday. Are you assuming that Kashmiris instead of sacrificing lamb should sacrifice themselves? If you want that I'm sure they'll do that, they've been doing that."

"Your MPs are saying this is Diwali. Then why not let all Kashmiris come out and celebrate," he said in the Lok Sabha.

Owaisi said it was "dishonourable" to create two Union Territories in the place of a full-fledged state of Jammu and Kashmir. "Are you planning to settle outside people in the Valley the way Israelis [did in certain settlements in West Bank]," asked Owaisi.

The Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP also cited the Supreme Court judgments to counter Union Home Minister Amit Shah's argument that Article 370 was "temporary" in nature. While seeking support for ending special status to Jammu and Kashmir in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah said Article 370 was a "temporary" provision in the Constitution.