NDA slams Congress's Saifuddin Soz over Kashmir, Article 370 remarks
Synopsis
A single statement by Congress veteran Saifuddin Soz demanding Article 370's restoration has triggered a full-scale NDA offensive, with the BJP, JD(U), and a Hindu seer all piling on — and the timing, one day before a Parliament session and after Rahul Gandhi's overseas trip, is no accident in the political calculus.
Key Takeaways
Congress leader Saifuddin Soz on 15 July called J&K's Union Territory status a temporary arrangement and demanded restoration of Article 370 .
BJP spokesperson C.R.
Kesavan accused Soz of 'batting for Pakistan's perilous agenda.' BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged Soz's remarks implied a claim to sovereignty for J&K.
JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said the episode exposed deep divisions within the opposition INDIA bloc.
Congress leader Surendra Rajput countered that the Article 370 question is before the courts and the party will abide by the verdict.
New Delhi, 16 July — NDA leaders on Thursday launched a sharp attack on senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz over his remarks on Jammu and Kashmir, accusing him of advancing what they called Pakistan's agenda by demanding the restoration of Article 370. The political row erupted a day after Soz publicly insisted that J&K's status as a Union Territory is a temporary arrangement that cannot be sustained indefinitely.
What Soz Said
The former Union Minister argued that neither the Prime Minister nor the Chief Minister has the authority to retain J&K as a Union Territory permanently, framing it as an interim measure. Soz called for the restoration of Article 370 and urged the region's youth to take up the cause of internal autonomy. He also invoked the historical context of J&K's accession to India, noting that a Muslim-majority state had chosen to join a Hindu-majority nation.
NDA's Counterattack
BJP National Spokesperson C.R. Kesavan responded sharply, saying: 'Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz, by preposterously demanding the restoration of Article 370, is clearly batting for Pakistan's perilous agenda and is peddling Pakistan's pernicious propaganda.' Kesavan also questioned the timing of the remarks, noting they came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returned from an overseas trip and on the eve of the commencement of a Parliament session.
BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that Soz had attempted to link J&K's statehood and the restoration of Article 370 to what he called 'the extremely dangerous premise' of a Muslim-majority state remaining with India on its 'own terms' — an argument Trivedi said implied a claim to sovereignty.
NDA Ally Weighs In
Janata Dal (United) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan used the occasion to highlight what he described as deep divisions within the opposition INDIA bloc. 'Statements like these highlight the unease and deep divisions within the alliance,' he said. Ranjan noted that while his party had initially opposed the abrogation of Article 370, it now backed the NDA government's approach, citing what he described as significant development in J&K since the reorganisation.
Hindu seer Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das held Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi personally responsible for the remarks, saying Gandhi 'spends more time abroad than in India' and should counsel his party leaders against making what he termed 'irresponsible statements.'
Congress Hits Back
Congress leader Surendra Rajput dismissed the NDA's criticism, saying: 'Linking Rahul Gandhi to every statement made by an individual reflects their intellectual bankruptcy and ideological poverty.' Rajput added that the question of Article 370 is currently before the courts and that the party would accept whatever verdict is delivered.
The exchange marks a fresh flashpoint over J&K's constitutional status ahead of the upcoming Parliament session, with both sides using the controversy to sharpen their political messaging.
Point of View
JD(U), and religious voices — suggests this is less a spontaneous reaction and more a prepared political move timed to the Parliament session. What's notable is that Congress itself has not endorsed Soz's position; its official response focused on deflecting the Rahul Gandhi angle rather than defending the Article 370 demand. That silence is telling. The BJP's strategy of linking Soz's remarks to Gandhi's foreign travel is a classic guilt-by-association play, but it risks obscuring the substantive constitutional question — one that the Supreme Court is yet to fully resolve — which remains live and legitimate regardless of who raises it.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Saifuddin Soz say about Jammu and Kashmir?
Soz said that J&K's status as a Union Territory is a temporary arrangement and that neither the Prime Minister nor the Chief Minister can sustain it permanently. He called for the restoration of Article 370 and urged J&K's youth to fight for internal autonomy.
Why did the NDA attack Congress over Soz's remarks?
NDA leaders, led by BJP spokesperson C.R. Kesavan, accused Soz of advancing Pakistan's agenda by demanding Article 370's restoration. They also questioned the timing of his remarks, which came a day before a Parliament session and after Rahul Gandhi's return from an overseas trip.
What is the current status of Article 370?
Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the NDA government in August 2019. The Supreme Court upheld the abrogation in December 2023, though questions around J&K's statehood restoration remain pending.
How did Congress respond to the NDA's criticism?
Congress leader Surendra Rajput dismissed the NDA's attack, saying that linking Rahul Gandhi to every statement by a party member reflects 'intellectual bankruptcy.' He added that the Article 370 matter is before the courts and the party will accept the judicial verdict.
What did JD(U) say about the INDIA bloc over this row?
JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said the episode exposed divisions within the opposition INDIA bloc, arguing that its constituent parties hold different priorities on key national issues. He added that JD(U), which once opposed Article 370's abrogation, now backs the NDA's approach to J&K's development.
