The BJP on Thursday criticised the INDIA bloc for the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking restoration of the region’s special status, appearing to use the ideological issue to draw political mileage in poll-bound Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

The party fielded former Union minister Smriti Irani, who focused her attack on the Congress and the Gandhi family, accusing them of aligning with terrorism by getting the resolution passed in the Assembly.

“Today, I stand as an Indian outraged at the attempt by the Congress-led INDI alliance to bring to the floor of the House a resolution that is against the Constitution. A resolution that stands against the Indian Constitution and the opinion of the Supreme Court of India…,” Irani said at a media address at the BJP headquarters.

“The Congress leadership, particularly the Gandhi family, needs to answer — do they stand for terrorism and stand against the development of Jammu and Kashmir? Do they stand for the breaking of India rather than stand by and abide by the Constitution of India?” she asked.

Irani, who had defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019 but lost the seat this time to a Gandhi family loyalist, Kishori Lal Sharma, accused the family of “seeking special status for themselves and not the people of Jammu and Kashmir”. She demanded an answer from the Congress leadership, particularly in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, where polls are scheduled later this month.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution seeking restoration of the special status but avoided a direct mention of the now-scrapped Article 370 or 35A, amid a ruckus by the BJP members who opposed the move. The MLAs of the Congress, which did not join the Omar Abdullah-led state government despite contesting the polls in alliance, had remained silent during the passage of the resolution.

Irani asserted that there was no question of restoring Articles 370 and 35A, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, seeking to harp on the nationalist agenda of the BJP.

“Yesterday, the INDI alliance attempted to strangle the Indian Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. With the resolution passed by the INDI alliance, they seem to be fighting a new war against the Constitution of India,” she said.

“Through BJP workers, I want to assure the citizens of India and tell leaders of the INDI alliance that Article 370 will not be restored and their attempt to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India will not be successful,” she added.

Monopoly rebuke

Irani attacked leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his newspaper article alleging that India was being subjugated by a new breed of monopolists under Modi and likening these conglomerates to the British-era East India Company. She accused the Gandhi family of converting the Congress into a “single-family private limited company”.

“Someone who has converted his own party into a single-family private limited company is talking about East India Company today. We cannot expect him to know anything about the valour of Rani Laxmibai and other heroes of the Independence struggle. Had it not been for those collective struggles, the British would have still been here,” she said.