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Revocation of Article 370 provisions for special status to J&K divides Congress

Published

7 years ago

August 6, 2019

Revocation of Article 370 provisions for special status to J&K divides Congress

Narendra Modi government’s move to revoke provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir to complete its ‘integration’ with India and ‘unite’ the country also divided the Congress.

The disarray and division in the party on a crucial issue face a party that was flung into a crisis following its humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections and was left rudderless when a leadership crisis at the top followed with Rahul Gandhi quitting as party chief. The party is yet to decide on a successor and Rahul Gandhi is yet to issue a statement on the contentious move, thus adding to the confusion.

On Monday, Aug 5, Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill in the Rajya Sabha that proposed abrogation of Article 370, which accorded special status to the state, and Article 35A, while also bifurcating the state into two union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

Many Congress leaders came out in support of the decision.

On Monday, the bill to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories was passed by the Rajya Sabha, where the government is short of a majority, with several opposition parties walking out and others siding with the government, like Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJP), Jagan Reddy’s YSR Congress, N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Congress leader, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, speaking to news channel NDTV, admitted yesterday that the party had been outfoxed. “We have been politically outwitted as we are among four or five parties alone that have opposed it. I wouldn’t say we didn’t know about it because I think everybody in our party, from Ghulam Nabi Azad to P Chidambaram, have been talking about it for the last one week. It was the closest to an open secret, but obviously one could not be sure. But yes we are now in a very small number of parties which argued and opposed and voted against it, but a democracy is a democracy… you have to go by the numbers,” said Singhvi.

Many Congress leaders came out in support of the move outside Parliament, calling it their “personal” view, even as the party’s Rajya Sabha members like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kapil Sibal blasted the move in the house, calling it “murder of democracy”, and Congress MPs in Lok Sabha staged a walkout led by Sonia Gandhi.

“Today BJP has murdered the constitution as well as democracy through the scrapping of Article 370. The very article that gave special status to J&K and linked it to the country has today been done away with mercilessly,” Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said in Parliament.

His colleague and former Union minister P. Chidambaram termed it a “constitutional monstrosity”.

But many other Congress leaders though otherwise.

The Congress’s chief whip Bhubaneswar Kalita quit the party and the Rajya Sabha calling the Congress stand on Kashmir “suicide” and “against the mood and emotions of the nation”. He said in a statement: “The Congress has asked me to issue a whip on the Kashmir issue. But the truth is that the mood of the nation has completely changed and this whip is against the public sentiment across the country. The ideology of Congress today looks like it is committing suicide and I do not want to be a part of it. I do not want to accept this whip and I am resigning from the Congress party,” he said in the letter referring to the whip to ensure party lawmakers attend Rajya Sabha during the discussion on Article 370.

His resignation is critical for the Congress not just because he was a key face from the North East, heading the party’s Assam unit for over a decade, but also because he was a key organization man handling a series of responsibilities.

In his resignation letter, Kalita has made stinging remarks on the Congress’ current state and leadership.

“Congress party’s leadership is doing the work of completely destroying the party. My view is that no one can save this party from being devastated,” he added.

Congress veteran Janardhan Dwivedi said a historic blunder had been remedied. “My mentor Ram Manohar Lohia was against Article 370 from the start…. My personal view is that this is a matter of national satisfaction. A mistake made during independence has been corrected, even if belatedly,” Janardhan Dwivedi told news agency ANI.

Congress leader Deepender Hooda tweeted: “My personal view is that there isn’t a need to have Article 370 in the 21st century. The move is not only in the interest of the country but also for the benefit of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. It is the responsibility of the government to implement the move in a peaceful environment.”

Taking a neutral stand, Mumbai Congress leader Milind Deora tweeted: “Very unfortunate that Article 370 is being converted into a liberal vs conservative debate. Parties should put aside ideological fixations and debate what’s best for India’s sovereignty and federalism, peace in J and K, jobs for Kashmiri youth and justice for Kashmiri Pandits.”

“My Personal Point of View : I support abrogation of Art 370 (as opening words say it’s temporary) but Only and Only in accordance with provisions and methodology provided by the Constitution of India which mandates consent of J&K State Assembly -any other way is Unconstitutional,” tweeted Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill.

Rae Bareli MLA Aditi Singh has also supported the Modi government’s decision.

Rahul Gandhi has decided not to speak in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Kashmir move.

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New UP Congress chief Aradhana Mishra backs stronger alliance with SP

Newly appointed UP Congress chief Aradhana Mishra said the party would strengthen its alliance with the Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.

Published

2 hours ago

October 3, 2026

APNLive Desk

Newly appointed Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Mishra, also known as Mona, has said the party will take its alliance with the Samajwadi Party forward with full strength ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.

Mishra, the daughter of Congress MP Pramod Tiwari, has been given the responsibility of leading the party’s state unit as Congress prepares for the assembly polls due in around six months, according to the report.

Speaking about Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Mishra described the SP as a strong partner of the Congress in the INDIA bloc.

“The Samajwadi Party is a partner of ours in the INDIA bloc, and a strong one at that,” she said, while praising the way Akhilesh Yadav has strengthened his party.

Aradhana Mishra backs Congress-SP alliance

Mishra referred to the performance of the INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh while discussing the alliance’s prospects for the next assembly election.

The INDIA bloc won 43 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 election, according to the report.

Mishra said the alliance had stopped the BJP’s advance in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and expressed confidence that the partnership would produce results in the 2027 Assembly election.

“We will take this alliance forward with full strength,” she said.

The new state Congress chief will also have to advance seat-sharing discussions with the Samajwadi Party. The report said Congress wants a larger share of seats, while the SP has not indicated a willingness to give ground, arguing that it is in a stronger position in the state.

Congress announces new UP team

The leadership change is part of a wider organisational reshuffle by the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.

Along with appointing Mishra as state Congress president, the party named Rajya Sabha MP Imran Masood as working president. Chaudhary Virendra Singh was appointed Leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

Devinder Nishad and Alok Prasad were also appointed senior vice presidents of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.

The new appointments bring different social groups into prominent positions in the state organisation. Mishra is a Brahmin, Masood is a Muslim and Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Congress’ AICC in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, is a Dalit, the report said.

Mishra, however, said the Congress does not practise caste or religion-based politics.

She said the party wanted to strengthen the country, protect the Constitution and build a strong alternative ahead of the 2027 election.

Mishra’s challenge ahead of 2027 polls

As the new Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, Mishra will be responsible for strengthening the party’s organisation in the state while also taking forward its alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

The Congress and SP are part of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh. With seat-sharing discussions ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, Mishra’s comments indicate that the Congress intends to continue working with the Samajwadi Party.

The appointment of Mishra comes alongside other organisational changes aimed at preparing the party for the upcoming assembly election.

India News

BJP may drop over 100 UP MLAs, focus shifts to voters and fix internal rifts

The BJP is considering major changes to its Uttar Pradesh candidates, with more than 100 sitting MLAs potentially facing ticket cuts as the party works to address internal rifts and voter concerns.

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2026

APNLive Desk

The BJP is preparing a major organisational and electoral strategy in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly election, with the party considering dropping more than 100 sitting MLAs from its candidate list.

The proposed changes are part of a broader effort to address internal differences within the party, strengthen its organisation and reconnect with voters across the state.

BJP’s plan for Uttar Pradesh

The party’s strategy involves reviewing the performance and prospects of its sitting legislators before deciding on candidates for the next Assembly election. More than 100 MLAs could potentially be denied tickets as part of the exercise.

The focus is also on resolving internal rifts and improving coordination within the organisation. The BJP is looking to address issues that emerged during the 2024 Lok Sabha election and strengthen its connect with voters.

The party’s review comes as it prepares for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, where it will seek to strengthen its position across the state.

Focus on internal differences and voters

Along with changes to its pool of candidates, the BJP is working on repairing differences within the organisation.

The party’s strategy places emphasis on reconnecting with voters and understanding issues at the ground level. Leaders and workers are expected to focus on strengthening the party’s presence among voters as preparations for the Assembly election continue.

The approach reflects the BJP’s effort to draw lessons from its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and make organisational changes ahead of the next major electoral contest in Uttar Pradesh.

Candidate changes under consideration

The possibility of dropping over 100 sitting MLAs would represent a significant change in the BJP’s candidate strategy in the state. However, the final decision on individual tickets will depend on the party’s assessment and the selection process.

The BJP is therefore combining a review of its sitting legislators with efforts to resolve internal differences and rebuild its connection with voters as it prepares for the 2027 polls.

India News

PM Modi speaks to Trump, reviews India-US trade and defence ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump and reviewed India-US bilateral cooperation, including trade and defence.

Published

3 days ago

September 30, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday and reviewed key areas of India-US bilateral cooperation, including trade and defence.

The conversation came as the two countries continue discussions on strengthening their broader partnership, with economic and strategic issues forming an important part of the engagement.

Modi, Trump discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation

During the phone conversation, Modi and Trump reviewed cooperation between India and the United States across several areas.

Trade and defence were among the key subjects discussed by the two leaders. Their conversation also covered energy and emerging technologies, reflecting the broad scope of the India-US partnership.

The two leaders also discussed issues linked to regional and global peace and security.

Had a productive conversation with President Trump. We reviewed our bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, energy, critical technologies and other areas. We agreed to maintain close engagement to take our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership forward.

We also exchanged…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 30, 2026

India-US trade talks continue

The conversation took place amid ongoing trade discussions between India and the United States.

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting the US from September 29 to October 5 for discussions related to an interim trade agreement and the possibility of a broader bilateral trade deal.

The talks are aimed at advancing trade engagement between the two countries as officials work towards an agreement that is described as balanced and mutually beneficial.

Defence and strategic cooperation

Defence cooperation was another area reviewed by Modi and Trump during their conversation.

India and the US have developed broader cooperation across defence and strategic sectors, and the latest discussion included the two countries’ continuing engagement in this area.

Energy and emerging technologies were also part of the leaders’ discussion, underlining the range of issues covered during the phone call.

Modi-Trump discuss regional and global issues

Beyond bilateral matters, Modi and Trump also discussed regional and global peace and security.

The conversation comes as India and the US continue to engage on issues extending beyond their bilateral relationship.

The latest phone call is part of the continuing engagement between the two leaders on strengthening cooperation across trade, defence and other areas of mutual interest.