BJP's Altaf Thakur Declares Article 370 Irrevocable, Criticizes Mirwaiz's Call for Unity

Leh, India Aug 30, 2026 ALN: BJP J&K Spokesperson Altaf Thakur has strongly criticized Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for urging political parties to unite for the restoration of Article 370. Thakur described such statements as attempts to provoke the public and disrupt the peaceful atmosphere that has emerged in Kashmir after years of violence.

Thakur emphasized that Parliament made a historic constitutional decision on August 5, 2019, which the Supreme Court later upheld. He stated, “Mirwaiz Umar Farooq should understand that Article 370 is not coming back. Parliament has buried Article 370 forever, and no political party, leader, or pressure group can reverse that constitutional reality.”

He warned that calls for restoration risk dragging Kashmir back into past political turmoil. “Statements of this nature are meant to provoke people and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the Valley once again. This will never be allowed. The nation has paid a very heavy price for the return of peace to Kashmir,” he added.

Thakur noted that Kashmir has experienced enough bloodshed and disruption, urging the public not to be pushed towards another cycle of instability. “Those who attempt to revive old fault lines must understand that Kashmir has moved ahead. Our youth want education, employment, entrepreneurship, investment, tourism, and opportunities. They do not want to return to an era when shutdown calendars dictated their lives and violence dictated the future,” he said.

While acknowledging that political parties have the right to express their views, Thakur insisted that agitation around an issue already settled constitutionally serves no purpose. “Democracy gives everyone the right to speak and participate, but it cannot be reduced to repeatedly demanding the reversal of a constitutional decision upheld by the highest court of the country,” he stated.

On the matter of statehood, Thakur reiterated the BJP's position that it would be restored at an appropriate time. “There is a clear distinction between statehood and Article 370. Statehood will be restored at an appropriate time, as has been stated by the Government. But there is absolutely no question of bringing back Article 370,” he clarified.

Thakur accused those advocating for the revival of Article 370 of ignoring the aspirations of the younger generation. “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are looking towards a future of peace, prosperity, and opportunity. They want universities, jobs, businesses, better connectivity, tourism, and modern infrastructure. They do not want to inherit the politics of fear, boycott, and violence,” he said.

He urged political parties to focus on development and governance rather than reopening issues that have already been constitutionally settled. “Let there be a healthy political contest over employment, education, healthcare, tourism, investment, and development. Let leaders tell the people what they can deliver rather than promising something that has no constitutional or legal possibility,” Thakur remarked.

Thakur emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made over the past decades. “We cannot allow the sacrifices of security personnel, innocent civilians, and political workers who stood firmly for democracy to be rendered meaningless. Every family that lost a loved one to terrorism has paid a price for the peace we see today,” he stated.

He appealed to the youth not to fall prey to attempts to reopen old divisions. “Kashmir’s future belongs to its young people. They must not allow anyone to take them back to a past of violence and uncertainty. The new Kashmir must be built through education, enterprise, democracy, and peace,” he urged.

Thakur concluded by asserting that the BJP would continue to oppose any attempts to create fear, confusion, or instability in Jammu and Kashmir. “Article 370 is history. Statehood will come at the appropriate time. Democracy will continue to deepen, and development will continue. But there will be no return to the politics of violence, separatism, and disruption,” he affirmed.