Handwara (Jammu and Kashmir): National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah on Monday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government to abrogate Article 370 and asserted that they would “fail miserably” if they tried to do so.
Addressing an election rally, he said: “From the land of Handwara, I challenge BJP to abrogate the Article 370, but, let me tell you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that you will fail miserably. We have seen a lot of leaders like you, who used the same tactics to destroy our land.”
“Even befriending those who sell out the country will not help you in this case,” he further said.
His comments come hours after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its election manifesto promising among other things the abrogation of Article 370 if the party retains power in the Lok Sabha polls.
NC chairman and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, earlier today, also said that if such a thing happens, then he would do everything in his power to help Kashmir gain independence from India.
Abdullah also said that if Article 370 is repealed, then the national flag will not be unfurled in the state.
Article 370 gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP manifesto also promises to annul Article 35A of the Constitution, which the BJP says is discriminatory to non-permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]