Amit Shah: Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar must clear stand on Article 370

Minister Amit Shah

Sangli: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday hit out at the Congress and NCP for "opposing" the NDA government's move to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lavishing praise on Narendra Modi for doing a "great job" of abrogating Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said the prime minister has ensured national security.

Addressing a rally at Jat in Sangli district to campaign for the BJP for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls, Shah said, "Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar should make it clear if they favour scrapping of Article 370."

Under Modi's watch, the national security has strengthened and the entire world now knows that "10 enemies will be killed if one Indian jawan is martyred," he said, apparently referring to the Balakot air strike after the Pulwama terror attack. Shah also asked Pawar to spell out what the previous Congress-NCP coalition governments did in Maharashtra.

Rahul Gandhi pleads not guilty

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had been abroad for few days, on Thursday appeared before a magisterial court at Surat and pleaded not guilty in a criminal defamation case filed against him for his "why do all thieves share Modi surname" remarks.

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