Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir's ruling National Conference Tuesday asked BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to take a leaf out of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's book and shun the path of sectarian and destructive politics.
Addressing a party function in Basohli town of Kathua district, NC provincial president Devender Singh Rana said Modi should correct his perception about the Constitution's Article 370 whose provisions define the relationship between Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian union as enshrined in the instrument of accession.
"Those talking about weakening or abrogating this constitutional provision are, in fact, working towards demolishing the constitutional bridge of relationship," he said.
"Modi, who was pretending to be carrying forward the mission of Vajpayee in Kashmir, should to take cue from the former prime minister and shun the path of sectarian and destructive politics," he said.
"As minister for external affairs, Vajpayee had sagaciously responded to a reporter on the question of abrogating Article 370 when he said there was much difference between being in power and being in the opposition.
"By raking up this sensitive issue in run up to the forthcoming elections, Modi is not only attempting to destabilize Kashmir situation, but also challenging the wisdom of his own cadre who know that article 370 is going to stay forever".
Rana expressed surprise over the understanding of Modi over the state subject laws and said he should have better sought good counsel while going public on this issue.
"State subject law is different, which was invoked in 1927 much before the country got its constitution and thereby the article 370," he maintained.
Rana also criticized the opposition Peoples Democratic Party who he alleged has been misleading the people in Kashmir and hobnobbing with communal forces in Jammu.
"They (PDP) should come out of the cocoon, as their truth stands exposed before the people," he said.
