Ghazipur, Nov 19: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that discussions on restoring Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir are “irrelevant” as the Supreme Court upheld its abrogation as constitutional.
Speaking about the post-Article 370 scenario, Sinha said, “After the abrogation, assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were conducted peacefully, observed by both national and international communities. A democratic government has taken oath there, and I am confident it will work towards the overall development of the region.”
“The country’s Supreme Court has upheld this abrogation move as constitutional, making any discussions on restoring the provision irrelevant,” Sinha added.
Highlighting the nation’s progress, he said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has seen tremendous development, particularly in the railway sector. This has created jobs for the youth and improved transportation facilities, contributing significantly to the country’s growth.”
Sinha, who inaugurated a new officer rest house and community center built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), remarked, “During his visits, the prime minister had no suitable place to rest in this region if needed. Today, RVNL has fulfilled that need by building these facilities.”
Sharing a personal anecdote from his tenure as Minister of State for Railways, Sinha recalled, “A journalist from Bengaluru once visited and required a restroom. She was directed to a toilet outside the Women’s Degree College in Ghazipur. Later, she wrote in her English newspaper that such clean toilets were not even available in Bengaluru. RVNL has constructed similarly excellent facilities here.”
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also inaugurated the officers’ rest house and community center at Ghazipur City Railway Station. The project has been executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited.
On November 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress and its allies are hatching a scheme to have a separate Constitution for Kashmir, and making all efforts for restoration of Article 370.
“Will the people of Maharashtra support the Congress and its allies who speak the language of Pakistan,” Modi said, addressing a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for the November 20 state assembly elections.
“Kashmir is an integral part of India. Every Indian wants that there should be only Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution in Kashmir,” Modi said.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will not be restored even if Congress stalwart and late PM Indira Gandhi comes down from heaven.
Addressing a rally at Dhule in North Maharashtra, Shah said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should remember that even if his “fourth generation was to come”, Muslims won’t get reservations meant for Dalits, tribals, and other backward castes.
The Union minister made it clear that Article 370, scrapped in 2019 by the BJP-led central government, won’t be restored under any circumstances.
“Even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 won’t be restored,” the BJP stalwart told the gathering.
