J&K: RSS firm on abrogation of Article 370; wants BJP-PDP coalition to succeed

New Delhi, Mar 14: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which had earlier said that the BJP-PDP coalition government is a "historic opportunity" that will help the state join the national mainstream, batted for the success of the "novel experiment" in the state.

Reaffirming its commitment to abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, RSS also admitted that running the government in the state would be a tightrope walk as BJP has formed a government for the first time with PDP.

The BJP's ideological mentor made it clear that notwithstanding the saffron party putting aside the contentious issue of Article 370 to forge an alliance with PDP, its own stand on it remained unchanged.

"RSS's stand on Article 370 has not changed, we will never compromise on it. We want the situation to improve.

If the situation does not improve, then we will decide," RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale told reporters at a briefing after the three-day brainstorming session of Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the apex decision-making body of RSS, got underway here this morning.

While insisting that its opposition to Article 370, which bestows special status on Jammu and Kashmir, will continue, the RSS leader said the Sangh fountainhead wanted the new experiment in the state to succeed.

"This is a novel experiment. In J&K, no nationalist party had ever reached this point. These are teething problems. We should allow time and opportunity for this experiment to succeed," he said.

He, however, expressed concern over the occurrences in the state, including the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam by the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed government.

"The issue of J&K is not between two parties in an alliance...it is attached to national sentiment. Both BJP and the Prime Minister have voiced disapproval over what has happened in Jammu and Kashmir," Hosabale said.

"The country is angry. We don't think what is happening in Jammu and Kashmir is right, but we should not conclude that the government has failed," he said.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)