BJP used Article 370 as political football, or why would PM Modi promote a movie on the topic: Omar Abdullah

National Conference (NC) leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has accused the (BJP) of using the abrogation of Article 370 as a political football.

Otherwise, said Omar, why would the prime minister promote a movie made around . He alleged that even those who celebrated the abrogation in Jammu and Ladakh are now unhappy

"People of J&K had an emotional connect with Article 370. Even those who celebrated its abrogation on August 5, 2019 are now mourning its absence," said Omar, the vice president of the

"I cannot forget how people from Leh distributed sweets then and now the same people are asking for special status," he said.

Omar's response came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that Article 370 was used for political gains and a few families took advantage of it before it was abrogated in August 2019.

"For decades, for political gains, Congress and its allies misled the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the name of 370 and misled the country. Did Jammu and Kashmir benefit from Article 370 or were only a few political families taking advantage of it? The people of Jammu and Kashmir have come to know the truth that they were misled. Jammu and Kashmir was kept in chains for the benefit of a few families," on Thursday during his first visit to Kashmir Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 by his government in 2019.

"If somebody has used Article 370, it is the BJP. It's been a political football for the BJP. And they have been using this football time and again. Otherwise, why would Mr Prime Minister sell tickets (promote) of a movie. The PM comes to Jammu and praises Bollywood films made on Article 370. If this isn't political use of Article 370 what is," Abdullah said.

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