J&K statehood restoration possible, Article 370 abrogation permanent: BJP

The BJP has clarified its stance on Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional status, asserting that any restoration of statehood would not entail a reversal of Article 370's abrogation. BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur emphasized that Parliament's decision on August 5, 2019, to abrogate the special constitutional provisions represented a historic reform that has withstood legal scrutiny.

Thakur noted that India's Supreme Court subsequently upheld the constitutional validity of the abrogation, providing judicial backing to the parliamentary action. This validation by the country's apex court has, according to the BJP, settled the matter conclusively within the Indian constitutional framework.

The BJP's position reflects its view that governance reforms in Jammu and Kashmir can proceed independently of restoring Article 370. The party has suggested that discussions regarding statehood restoration are distinct from the question of the constitutional provisions that were abrogated nearly five years ago.

The clarification comes as various political stakeholders in the region continue to articulate their positions on J&K's constitutional and administrative future. The BJP's statement seeks to draw a firm line between two separate constitutional questions: the region's administrative status and the special protections that were removed in 2019.