In a bold statement at a Maharashtra election rally, Union Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed that Article 370, which once granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, would never be reinstated, regardless of political changes. Shah remarked, “Even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 won’t be restored.” This comment followed a recent resolution by the Congress-National Conference government in Jammu and Kashmir calling for the reinstatement of Article 370.

Responding to Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde’s earlier remark about feeling unsafe at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, Shah countered, “Shinde ji, visit Kashmir now with your grandchildren—no harm will come to you.” He further criticized the previous Congress-led government, asserting that lax policies during the Sonia-Manmohan administration enabled frequent cross-border terrorist attacks.

Earlier, in Buldhana, Maharashtra, Shah had declared that “even the fourth generation of Rahul Gandhi will not be able to restore Article 370.” He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with improving national security and permanently removing the provision. Echoing Shah’s remarks, PM Modi, while campaigning in Pune, accused Congress of “speaking the language of Pakistan” by advocating for the restoration of Article 370, adding that the provision is “buried deep in the ground.”

The contentious Article 370, which had provided Jammu and Kashmir with a degree of autonomy, was abrogated on August 5, 2019, and the state was reorganized into two union territories. The newly elected Omar Abdullah-led coalition government, however, has committed to working toward restoring full statehood and reinstating Article 370.