Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a fiery address to a gathering in poll-bound Maharashtra, firmly stated that Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will not be reinstated, even if former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were to return from the afterlife. Shah’s comments come in the wake of the Narendra Modi-led government’s 2019 decision to revoke Article 370 and bifurcate the erstwhile state into two union territories.”
Even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 won’t be restored,” Shah declared, emphasizing the BJP’s firm stance on the issue. The remark was aimed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is the grandson of the late Indira Gandhi.
Shah also took aim at Rahul Gandhi over the issue of reservations for Muslims. He criticized the Congress leader for supporting demands from Muslim scholars (Ulemas) for reservations in jobs and education. “If reservation has to be extended to Muslims, it would come at the cost of reducing quotas for Dalits, tribals, and other backward castes. Rahul Gandhi should remember that even if his fourth generation were to come, they cannot alter the reservation system meant for SCs, STs, and OBCs,” Shah said, adding that this was an attempt to divide communities.
As the Maharashtra Assembly elections approach, with voting scheduled for November 20, Shah also targeted the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress. He accused the MVA of misusing Maharashtra’s resources to fund activities outside the state. “They will withdraw funds from Maharashtra and send them to Delhi. In contrast, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance will ensure that Maharashtra sees greater development,” he promised.
In a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi’s recent display of a copy of the Indian Constitution, Shah alleged that the Congress leader had used a fake copy during political events. “Recently, Rahul Gandhi was seen waving a copy of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. When journalists got hold of that very copy, they found it had blank pages. By showing a fake Constitution, Rahul Gandhi broke the trust of the people and insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Shah asserted, mocking the Congress leader’s knowledge of the Constitution.
Shah also took a jibe at Sonia Gandhi, Rahul’s mother, by recalling the repeated failures of Rahul’s political ventures. “Sonia ji tried to land the plane named Rahul Baba 20 times, and 20 times it crashed. Now, an attempt is being made to land the plane for the 21st time in Maharashtra. Sonia ji, your Rahul plane is going to crash for the 21st time,” Shah remarked, in a lighthearted yet pointed critique of the Congress leadership.
The remarks made by Amit Shah reflect the high-stakes nature of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, where the BJP is looking to maintain its hold on power against the MVA alliance. With the polls just days away, the campaign promises to heat up further as both sides continue to target each other on key issues.
