'Congress-NC alliance is endorsed by Pakistan': PM Modi on Article 370

The Pakistan Defence Minister in an interview with the country’s Geo News TV, said there is a “high chance” that the Congress-NC alliance would win the Assembly polls banking on Articles 370 and 35A as an election issue.

“Pakistan and the National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu and Kashmir to restore Articles 370 and 35A,” Asif said.

While the restoration of Article 370 is part of the NC’s manifesto, Congress has kept mum on the issue.

The alliance government, however, said that if voted to power, would function based on a Common Minimum Programme.

Targeting the NC-Congress alliance, PM Modi addressing an election rally in Jammu said: "There may be no enthusiasm for the Congress and NC in Jammu and Kashmir, but the neighbouring country is very enthusiastic about them…"

"The Congress-NC alliance is being praised in Pakistan. Pakistan seems to be very happy with their manifesto… Pakistan itself has exposed the Congress and NC. They want to implement here the agenda of Pakistan that destroyed generations in J&K and spilled our blood. For decades, the Congress and NC did here what suited Pakistan, the master of terrorism,” he said.

Amit Shah too did not leave a chance to slam these parties and said: “Pakistan's Defence Minister's statement about Congress and JKNC's support on Article 370 and 35A has once again exposed Congress. This statement has once again made it clear that Congress and Pakistan have the same intentions and agenda.

"For the last few years, Rahul Gandhi has been standing with every anti-India force, hurting the sentiments of the countrymen."

Meanwhile, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah distanced himself from the remarks.

In a conversation with ANI, on Thursday, stating, "I don't know what Pakistan says. I am not a Pakistani; I am an Indian citizen."

Abdullah said that the situation would become clear to the public on October 8 when the results of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be announced.

"Wait till October 8, everything will be clear. The first thing I will do is bring back the Darbar Move. We have both been caused a loss because of the Darbar Move. People used to go there in the winter in the Darbar Move. There was a relationship between Jammu and Kashmir. In summer, they used to come here to finish the work. You can go and ask the people how much loss they have suffered because of the Darbar Move," he said.

Earlier, the BJP criticized the Congress-National Conference alliance following comments by Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, who claimed that Pakistan and the alliance were aligned on the issue of restoring Article 370 in the Union Territory.

BJP leader Amit Malviya in a post on X said, "Pakistan, a terrorist state, endorses Congress and National Conference's position on Kashmir. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, on Hamid Mir's Capital Talk on Geo News says, "Pakistan and National Conference-Congress alliance are on the same page in Jammu & Kashmir to restore Article 370 and 35A.

"How is it that, from Pannun to Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi and his Congress, are always seen on the side of those inimical to India's interest?"

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said, "The question is what is this relation of Congress party & NC with Pakistan called?... We can see how the Congress Party National Conference and INDIA Alliance are continuously trying to join hands with Pakistan..."