Article 370 should not be raked up during polls: Home Minister Rajnath Singh

PADDAR (KISHTWAR): Calling the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution a national issue, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that the matter is debatable and should not be raked up during Assembly elections for vote bank politics.

"It (Article 370) is (a) national issue. It is debatable. BJP's stand on it is clear. There is no need to rake up this issue during Assembly polls...," Singh told a public meeting in remote Paddar belt of Kishtwar district.

Singh, who is on a campaign trail in support of his party candidates Sunil Sharma in Kishtwar Assembly seat and Daleep Kumar in Bhaderwah, asked political parties not to rake it up during Assembly elections for vote bank politics.

The Union Home Minister said his party would focus on good governance devoid of corruption, development and making Jammu and Kashmir a model of peace and development.

Singh said his party was ready for a debate on abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, "but in Assembly elections our focus is on good governance and development".