JP Nadda slams Congress, hails BJP’s role in abrogating Article 370
New Delhi Dec 17 (KINS): Union Health Minister and BJP President JP Nadda, on Tuesday, launched a scathing attack on the Congress during a special parliamentary debate marking the 75th year of theicle 370, Nadda accused the Congress of undermining the Constitution during its rule and praised the BJP-led central government for integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India.
Nadda according to news agency KINS alleged that the Congress governments had repeatedly altered and misused the Constitution for political gains. He pointed to the inclusion of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming it was done at the behest of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, against the advice of then Law Minister BR Ambedkar. “Ambedkar called Article 370 treacherous and refused to allow it, but Nehru went ahead, bypassing parliamentary procedures,” Nadda said.
The BJP leader credited the Modi government for the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, calling it a landmark decision that ensured the “full integration” of Jammu and Kashmir.
He criticized Congress for “persisting with the demand to restore Article 370, which, he argued, denied Jammu and Kashmir the benefits of 106 central laws, including reservations for Scheduled Tribes (STs)”. He also highlighted that refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were earlier denied voting and election rights in local polls.
“While India had two Prime Ministers—Manmohan Singh and IK Gujral—and one Deputy Prime Minister, LK Advani, who were refugees from west Pakistan, the people from PoK could not even contest Panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir. This was corrected by the BJP government,” Nadda asserted.
Targeting the Congress for imposing Emergency in 1975, Nadda described it as a move to “save Indira Gandhi’s chair” rather than the nation. He accused the Congress of throttling democracy and urged the party to join the Anti-Democracy Day planned by the BJP on June 25, 2025, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency.
“The Congress should appeal to the people and acknowledge the evil attempt to strangle democracy during the Emergency. If they feel any remorse, they must join this commemoration,” he said.
Citing further examples of constitutional misuse, Nadda criticized Congress for frequently invoking Article 356 to dismiss state governments. “Nehru used Article 356 eight times, Indira Gandhi 50 times, Rajiv Gandhi nine times, and Manmohan Singh 10 times to topple elected governments,” he claimed.
Nadda also attacked the Congress for amending the Preamble to include the words “secular” and “socialist” during the Emergency. He argued that these terms were already inherent in the Constitution’s spirit and that Ambedkar himself had opposed the use of “socialist” as it could limit democratic freedoms. He accused Congress of adding these terms as part of “minority appeasement” and to appear progressive.
Nadda further criticized Nehru for diplomatic and military lapses, particularly during the 1962 India-China war. He said Nehru’s lack of preparedness resulted in the loss of 38,000 square kilometers of Indian territory. He also highlighted territorial giveaways, such as the transfer of Coco Island to Myanmar and Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka, as well as delays in ratifying the India-Bangladesh border agreement.
“Despite an agreement in 1974, the Congress failed to ratify the land border agreement with Bangladesh, delaying the transfer of enclaves on both sides until 2015,” he said, crediting the BJP government for resolving the issue.
Nadda emphasized that the framers of the Constitution were deeply aware of India’s cultural and historical roots. “This nation was not in the making; it was already a nation, grounded in its culture and ethos,” he said, referencing terms like ‘Sabha,’ ‘Samiti,’ and ‘Sansad’ found in ancient manuscripts and Vedas.
He also highlighted the artistic imprints on the original Constitution, including motifs from the Ajanta and Ellora caves and the lotus symbol, which he described as a metaphor for overcoming struggles and building a resilient democracy.
Questioning the Congress’s reluctance to outlaw triple talaq, Nadda pointed out that the practice is banned in several Islamic countries. “When we talk about culture, many call us regressive, but we stand for reforms that strengthen society,” he said.
Nadda concluded by hailing the BJP-led government as the “good lot” that rectified the missteps of the past. “The abrogation of Article 370 and other reforms demonstrate our commitment to strengthening democracy and the Constitution,” he said.
The speech, delivered during a pivotal parliamentary session, reflected the BJP’s broader narrative of positioning itself as a party dedicated to constitutional integrity and national unity, while portraying the Congress as a force that undermined democratic values.
