Speaker said 61 supported resolution: Kavinder Gupta

Jammu, Nov 16: Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta Saturday said the Speaker of J&K Legislative Assembly was on record saying that resolution on Article 370 (special status) passed in the House was supported by 61 MLAs.

“The Speaker of J&K Legislative Assembly stated that there were 61 (MLAs) who supported the resolution (seeking special status and constitutional guarantees). So, we (BJP) say those 61 obviously included Congress MLAs. Congress conveniently uses it (Article 370) to serve its interests,” Kavinder said, while speaking to the media, on the sidelines of a function here.

He was responding to queries about Congress denying that it ever supported demand for restoration of Article 370.

He said, “In Maharashtra, people have understood Congress’ ploy. They know that Congress is not able to explain its stand on it. This is creating trepidation within Congress. It is natural that they (Congress leaders) are making contradictory statements.”

“They (Congress leaders) have one stand (on Article 370) in J&K and the other stand on it, in other parts of the country. (Mallikarjun) Kharge used to give statements on it, now he is contradicting himself and trying to evade his own statements,” he said.

In response to a question about Pakistan shelving its plan to take the Champions Trophy to PoJK cities under ICC pressure, Kavinder said that this was a slap on its (Pakistan’s) face.

“Pakistan used to indulge in similar tactics even earlier. Yet he has to face embarrassment at international fora. This tactic was a part of the tool-kit against India. But our country knows how to tackle these nefarious designs and teach them (behind it) a lesson. As far as PoJK is concerned, it is part of India and will continue to be so. Keep watching, it will join us on its own,” he said.