Article 370 blocked development of Jammu and Kashmir: Nitin Gadkari

NAGPUR: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Transport and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari today joined the row over Article 370 saying that the development of Jammu and Kashmir got blocked due to the Constitutional provision that bestows special status on the State.

"The development of Jammu and Kashmir could not take off due to Article 370. There is a tremendous scope for development of the State (Jammu and Kashmir) and a number of possibilities for tourism (exists). Hence, the new government is keen to develop the State in a better way," Gadkari told reporters after visiting 'Deekshabhoomi' here where he paid tributes to Dalit icon Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Earlier in the day, the former BJP national president visited 'Smruti Mandir' housing samadhis of K B Hedgewar, the founding Sarsanghchalak of RSS and Golwalkar, the second Sarsanghchalak, in Reshimbagh area of the city.

Meanwhile, responding to a query on decommissioned aircraft career 'INS Vikrant', Gadkari said that he would look into the issue and seek details from New Delhi. INS Vikrant was auctioned a month back and was today moved out of the Naval dock in Mumbai and taken to a ship breaking yard located in south Mumbai. Gadkari, who arrived here last night for first time after becoming a Cabinet minister, will assume office tomorrow.