Ghulam Nabi Azad, a former leader of the Congress, spoke yesterday at a rally in Baramulla, Kashmir: “To restore Article 370 would need around 350 votes in the Lok Sabha and 175 votes in the Rajya Sabha. This is a number no political party has or is likely to ever get.”

 

Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, responded on Monday to Ghulam Nabi Azad’s statement that “Article 370 cannot be restored,” saying that it was his personal opinion. The PDP leader continued, “In Jammu and Kashmir, there are voices that believe Article 370 would be revived.” “It’s his (Ghulam Nabi Azad ) personal opinion…Congress had raised its voice against the British and stopped them. Similarly, there are voices in J&K who believe 370 will be reinstated and this will be resolved,” Mufti said.

Notably, Ghulam Nabi Azad, a former leader of the Congress, remarked yesterday during a rally in Baramulla, Kashmir, “To restore Article 370 would need around 350 votes in the Lok Sabha and 175 votes in the Rajya Sabha. This is a number no political party has or is likely to ever get.”

Azad, who left his five-decade affiliation with the Congress on August 26, claimed that any pledges made by the grand old party to reinstate Article 370 are untrue. “The Congress has shrunken to less than 50 seats and if they speak of restoring Article 370, they are making false promises,” said the 73-year-old politician.

“Some people have blamed me for voting in favour of the Article 370 abrogation motion brought in by the home minister. I have voted against the abrogation and these people who have no idea about the working of Parliament are saying that I voted against Article 370,” Azad said further.

Ghulam Nabi Azad remarked in yesterday’s rally that he will announce the foundation of his own political party within 10 days after previously declaring that he will be leaving Congress and starting his own party. “I thank my colleagues who stand with me and are the base of my new party which, God willing, will be announced within the next 10 days,” he stated.