Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that Article 370, which granted special status to occupied Jammu and Kashmir under the Indian Constitution, was “dead” and would not be restored.

While addressing a rally ahead of assembly elections in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), he dismissed the provision as a “part of history” that would never return.

Amit took aim at the opposition, particularly the National Conference and Congress, for their efforts to reinstate Article 370 and 35-A. He alleged that the law only contributed to violence in the region, saying, “It brought nothing but guns and stones into the hands of Kashmir’s youth.”

He also addressed the issue of Pakistan, reiterating India’s stance that dialogue would not be possible until “terrorism from across the border was addressed.”

“Talks and bombs cannot coexist. While we will not negotiate with Pakistan, we are committed to reaching out to the youth of Kashmir, offering them a path toward peace and development,” he said.

His comments come ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the first since 2014, which are seen as a crucial indicator of public sentiment in the region. He urged the people to support the BJP, alleging that the abrogation of Article 370 has led to “increased peace, prosperity, and development in IIOJK.”

The Indian home minister pointed to a “70% reduction in terror-related incidents, dropping from 7,217 cases between 2004 and 2014 to 2,272 from 2014 to 2024.”

He said: “These 10 years, from 2014 to 2024, will be remembered as a golden era in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.”