Srinagar, 2 July (H.S.): Calling the Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “man of commitment,” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today said that the time has not yet come for the restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference here, BJP J&K spokesperson Altaf Thakur said the ruling National Conference (NC) has failed to fulfill its commitments and promises and is now raising the issues of Article 370 and Statehood.

“Statehood is the commitment of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, and it will be restored at the right time. The PM is a man of commitment, and if he has said that Statehood will be granted, then it will be,” he said.

On Article 370, Thakur said it has been buried and will not return. “Even its bones are gone. We have been saying that Article 370 is history, and it won’t come back,” he added.

Regarding the recently formed People’s Alliance for Change (PAC), Thakur described it as “old wine in new bottles,” similar to the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), which he claimed had no agenda.

He said that instead of presenting a “new idea” to the people of Kashmir, it (PAC) resorted to the “politics of deceit” by raising the bogey of Article 370 and Statehood.

Thakur said the alliance should explain how it plans to restore Article 370. “Do they have the numbers to bring it back? The power lies with Parliament. Even the Supreme Court has upheld the abrogation,” he added.

BJP leader said the newly formed alliance had been expected to focus on progress, development, and other pressing issues of Kashmir.

“But it turned out to be old wine in new bottles. There is no difference between the PAGD and this new alliance. They are only talking about bringing back statehood,” Altaf said.

He emphasized that if any party is working for the welfare of the people, it is the BJP. “The BJP has ensured progress and peace. After 2019, the image of J&K has changed”, he added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar