Posted 2/11/2024, 10:10:00 AM
Modi's Commitment to J&K Integration Drives Secrecy and Surprise Around Article 370 Move
- Modi secretly briefed President about decision to scrap Article 370 on Aug 4, 2019, travelling alone in an unremarkable car without his customary cavalcade
- It was part of a larger plan to surprise opponents who had vowed to block any BJP move to change J&K's status quo
- Introduced J&K Reorganisation Bill in Rajya Sabha where NDA lacked majority, not Lok Sabha where BJP had clear majority
- Wanted to prevent alerting opposition to marshal superior numbers in Rajya Sabha to block the move
- Timing and secrecy showed Modi's commitment to integrate J&K, a core BJP pledge since its founding