Aligning with terrorism: Smriti Irani hits out at Congress, INDIA bloc over demand for restoration of 3

Smriti Irani slams Congress, INDIA bloc over demand for restoration of special status for J&K

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the INDIA bloc for demanding the restoration of special status for Jammu and Kashmir, equating their stand with that of terrorists.

Addressing a press conference, Irani said, "The demand for the restoration of Article 370 is akin to aligning with terrorism." She further asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 was a "bold and decisive" step taken by the Modi government to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.

"The Congress and the INDIA bloc are playing into the hands of Pakistan by supporting the demand for the restoration of Article 370," Irani alleged. She also accused the opposition parties of trying to "destabilize" the region and create a "sense of fear and insecurity" among the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir have rejected the ideology of separatism and are now looking towards a brighter future," Irani said. She also hailed the government's efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the region and said that the abrogation of Article 370 was a "step in the right direction."

The Congress and the INDIA bloc have been demanding the restoration of special status for Jammu and Kashmir, which was abrogated by the Modi government in August 2019.

The parties have argued that the abrogation of Article 370 was "unconstitutional" and has led to a "sense of alienation" among the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The government has maintained that the abrogation of Article 370 was necessary to bring Jammu and Kashmir at par with other states of India and to ensure its full integration with the rest of the country.