Srinagar, July 06: Bhartiya Janata Party (J&K) General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul Monday said that Article 370 was never permanent in in J&K and after its abrogation people have reaped the benefits that include complete end to stone pelting and there is no law and order or civilian killing at the encounter sites now.

Talking to reporters at BJP’s Srinagar headquarters on the eve of birth anniversary of BJP founder Dr Shama Prassad Mukherji, the BJP leader said that even the then Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru had stated that Article 370 was temporary.

“The then Law Minister of India BR Ambedkar too didn’t incorporate Article 370 which means it remained a temporary article. Then 35 A. Where from did this come from? It was incorporated through a presidential notification which was wrong,” Koul said.

He said that the question remains what did the people of achieve out of Article 370. “My answer is nothing,” he said.

The BJP leader said that all the regional parties be those from National Conference of the PDP, played politics over Article 370 and 35 A just to ensure that they remain in power. “Common people in Kashmir or Jammu got nothing and instead was befooled on one or the other pretext by the regional political parties,” he said.

He said people of J&K were kept in dark for the past 70 years by none other than the leaders of political parties that ruled the erstwhile State.

“Today, benefits of roll back of Article 370 are clear: Stone pelting has completely vanished and there is no protest or a civilian killing at the encounter sites,” Koul said.

About former Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s recent announced where he announced to part ways from the amalgam, Koul said: “Geelani is a veteran politician. He has been in the Assembly and knows the benefits of democracy. Had he taken the decision of quitting Hurriyat earlier, perhaps Kashmir would not have seen this much of bloodshed and chaos.”

Koul praised Prime Minister Narendera Modi for the huge package worth Rs 20, lakh crore for the Covid-hit states and UTs and the free ration to the poor that would cost the country Rs 80,000 crore. “I urge the J&K administration to ensure that all the benefits reach the common people of Kashmir,” he said.

On when would the mainstream politicians be released from detention, he said all have been released. “They were detained because of their statements vis-à-vis prior to August 5 last year. For their safety and for the safety of general public, they were detained. Today all are free and some have even started their political activities,” he said—(KNO)