Bhupinder Singh Hooda hits out at Congress, welcomes Modi govt's move on Article 370

Former Haryana chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Sunday criticised his own party and said he supported the Narendra Modi government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

Earlier, his son and former Congress MP Deepender Hooda also supported Centre’s recent decisions on J&K.

"When the government does something right, I support them. Many of my colleagues opposed the decision… my party has lost its way, it’s not the same Congress it used to be," Hooda said at a rally in Rohtak, according to news agency ANI.

BS Hooda: I support the decision to abrogate #Article370 but I want to tell Haryana Govt that you will have to give an account of what you did in 5 years, don't hide behind this decision. Our brothers from Haryana are deployed as soldiers in Kashmir, that is why I supported it. https://t.co/xKGAtqKyY3

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2019

"When it comes to patriotism and self-respect, I’ll not compromise with anyone," Hooda said while addressing the 'Parivartan Maha Rally'.

“I was born in a patriotic family, those who oppose (abrogation of Article370), I want to tell them "usulon par jahan aanch aaye, vahan takrana zaruri hai, jo zinda hai to zinda dikhna zaruri hai", he said.

The rally was held to dislodge the "corrupt and non-performing" M L Khattar government in the upcoming assembly election.

Meanwhile, restrictions were tightened in some parts of Srinagar on Sunday following incidents of violence a day earlier, even as the first batch of Haj pilgrims returned to Kashmir from Saudi Arabia, officials said.

They added restrictions continued in many parts of the Valley for the 14th day on Sunday.

Restrictions were reimposed in certain areas which witnessed trouble on Saturday after the curbs were eased in several areas of the city and elsewhere in the valley, the officials said.

Government spokesman Rohit Kansal had on Saturday said the restrictions were eased in 35 police station areas of the valley. However, several places witnessed clashes between groups of youth and security forces, leading to reimposition of the curbs.

On Saturday evening, Kansal said protests took place at six places in the valley in which eight persons suffered injuries.

(With PTI inputs)