PM Modi's challenge to Opposition on Article 370

Jalgaon: Stepping up attack on the Congress and NCP over the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dared them to declare in their manifesto that they will bring back the provisions which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing his first rally ahead of the October 21 Maharashtra Assembly polls, Modi said Jammu and Kashmir was "not just a parcel of land, but the crown of India", and assured it would not take more than four months to normalise the kind of situation that prevailed there for 40 years.

He accused the opposition parties of politicising the issue of Article 370 and charged them with "speaking on the same lines as that of the neighbouring country".

The prime minister lavished praise on the Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government for its five-year performance, which he said, was "corruption-free" and inspired confidence among all, including farmers and industries.

Attacking the Congress and NCP, Modi said it was "unfortunate" that they were "politicising" the "unprecedented" decision of scrapping of Article 370.

Their leaders thought exactly the opposite of what the entire nation feels about Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Accusing the opposition leaders of shedding crocodile tears on the issue of Article 370, he said, "I challenge them, if they have guts, declare in their manifesto for state election and future polls too, that they will bring back Article 370 and 35A, which the BJP, the Modi government scrapped...that they will change the August 5 decision."

"Stop shedding these crocodile tears," Modi told the opposition parties.

Wondering whether bringing back Article 370 will be acceptable to people, he said the opposition parties would have no future if they were to do so.

Modi said there was "no difference" between what the BJP-led government preached and practised. He also hit out at the opposition over the issue of banning triple talaq, alleging they tried to see Muslim sisters did not get justice.

Modi "thanked" people for reposing their faith in the BJP-led NDA government, saying their votes for an "able and strong New India" in the Lok Sabha elections will help the country attain the place it deserves in the world.

"Because of this mandate, India's voice is being heard by each of the world's strong force...The world is seeing a reinvigorated New India. This not because of Modi, but because of your one vote. Only my 130 crore countrymen are behind it," Modi said.

He also listed several works and initiatives launched by the BJP-led central and Maharashtra governments.