Jammu, Aug 19: Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy has responded to the National Conference’s (NC) recent manifesto by firmly dismissing the idea of reinstating Article 370, emphasizing that neither Omar Abdullah nor the Congress party is likely to return to power in Jammu and Kashmir. According to Reddy, the current political landscape renders the discussion of Article 370 moot, as he believes that Abdullah and the NC, along with the Congress party, are unlikely to gain enough support to form a government.
In his reaction, Reddy stated, “There is no question of either Omar Abdullah or National Conference or Congress party coming to power in Jammu and Kashmir. How can they bring back Article 370 when they will not be in power?” He reiterated that the restoration of Article 370 is a non-issue as Abdullah, who has been a prominent leader of the NC, will not assume the role of Chief Minister or hold any significant power in the region. Reddy’s comments highlight the perceived improbability of the NC’s return to political dominance, which, in his view, makes any promises regarding the restoration of Article 370 irrelevant.
The National Conference, which recently released its manifesto ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled to begin on September 18, has included several ambitious promises aimed at addressing the needs and concerns of the people in Jammu and Kashmir. The manifesto outlines 12 key guarantees, such as the restoration of political and legal status to Jammu and Kashmir, the provision of 200 units of free electricity, job creation, and various infrastructure improvements. Despite these promises, Reddy’s response underscores the central government’s stance on the issue of Article 370, which was abrogated in August 2019, and suggests that the current administration does not view the NC’s promises as a credible threat.
The upcoming Assembly elections will therefore not only be a test of the National Conference’s electoral strength but also a measure of how influential their manifesto promises will be in shaping the political future of Jammu and Kashmir.