Aman Zutshi
Hours after the National Congress party released its Manifesto along with senior party leaders at Akbar road, New Delhi, several leaders of the incumbent regime lambasted at the Congress for promising to restore J&K’s statehood, which was removed by the National govt on August 5, 2019 by truncating the region into two union territories. Reacting to the Congress’s Manifesto, Ex- Deputy J&K CM Kavinder Gupta said that they’re uprooting the dead as the apex court gave its verdict last year supporting the removal of Article-370.
Taking a dig at Congress Manifesto claiming to restore J&K’s statehood if elected to power in 2024 Lower House elections, former Deputy J&K CM Kavinder Gupta, said, “Congress has issued its manifesto and they have uprooted the dead (Article 370) in their manifesto on which the SC has given its verdict”.
Ex Deputy J&K CM Kavinder Gupta added in a video statement, “The Congress is doing this intentionally to misguide people. They should also talk about the scams happened in their govt as they have looted 1000 of crores of this country. The people will not give any importance to it. Congress will be opposed by the good works done by the BJP”.
Criticising Congress over 1986 Bofors scam of Rajiv Gandhi govt, he said, “Congress should also answer about Bofors scam as how after the demise of Rajiv Gandhi, Gandhi family and others did that fraud. We will not accept such anti-country comments and Congress will know its status after the LoK Sabha elections”.
What is the Bofors scam?
On March 18, 1986, India signed a Rs 1,437-crore deal with Swedish arms manufacturer AB Bofors for the supply of 400 155 mm Howitzer guns for the Army. A year later, on April 16, 1987, a Swedish radio channel alleged that the company had bribed top Indian politicians and defence personnel to secure the contract. The scandal rocked the Rajiv Gandhi-led government in the late 1980s. On January 22, 1990, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lodged an FIR against the then president of Bofors Martin Ardbo, the alleged middleman Win Chadda and the Hinduja brothers for criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.
It was alleged that certain public servants and private persons in India and abroad had entered into a criminal conspiracy between 1982 and 1987 in pursuance of which the offences of bribery, corruption, cheating and forgery were committed.
Removal of Article-370
On 5 August 2019, the Government of India issued a Presidential Order superseding the 1954 order, and making all the provisions of the Indian constitution applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. The order was based on the resolution passed in both houses of India’s parliament with two-thirds majority. A further order on 6 August made all the clauses of Article 370 except clause 1 to be inoperative. The order took away J&K’s statehood.
In addition, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 was passed by the parliament, enacting the division of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories to be called Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh. The reorganisation took place on 31 October 2019. Taking away the statehood.
A total of 23 petitions were presented to the Supreme Court of India, challenging the constitutionality of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution a, which constituted a five judge bench for the same. On 11 December 2023, a five judge constitution bench unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution.
Also Read: Will Restore Full Statehood to JK, Vows Congress Manifesto
