Article 370, a cancer for the past 70 years: Ram Madhav

New Delhi, Oct 05: Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav said leaders who are currently under house arrest in Jammu and Kashmir will be released soon and they can resume their "normal" political activity.

Speaking at 'Jana Jagaran Sabha' on abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP general secretary said once governors rule is lifted and legislature takes over, constitutional entities such as Commissions for SC, Women and Minorities will be set up in the region.

Describing Article 370 as cancer for the past 70 years he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed it in just 70 hours.

He said the region which used to reel under law and order problems for months together is now becoming peaceful after over 200 leaders of the state were under house arrest.

"There is this propaganda that you have arrested thousands of people (in J&K). Let me tell you today that those 200 plus leaders are in preventive detention. Preventive detention is a normal law and order arrangement.It doesn't amount to human rights violations.

Preventive detention in five star hotels with good facilities with TVs and books and all those things, is a temporary measure to ensure law and order in the state," Ram Madhav said.

The state was largely quiet barring a few incidents with 200 people in jail, he claimed.
"Now you can imagine how effective this preventive detention is. Please don't mistake me that these people will be jail forever.No. Very soon they will have their freedom. We want normal political activity to be restored in the state. But it has to be normal political activity," he added.

He claimed Ladakh people were happy now and rejoicing as the region was made a Union Territory and Jammu region was also happy as they are now able to fully integrate with the country. There are issues with Kashmir Valley and they will be dealt with sensitivity," he said.

According to him, no international community will come and inspect Kashmir based on the false propaganda that there is large-scale human rights violation in the Valley.

Ram Madhav said no private investment had come to J&K during the past few decades because of Article 370 which prohibits private persons or entities from owning land.

Describing Pakistan as "epicentre" of terror, the BJP leader claimed the US will be more friendly with India than Pakistan keeping in view the huge trade between it and India.