'Article 370 a Trojan Horse ...': Sitharaman slams opposition's queries on J&K's budget

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday hit back at the opposition's "Trojan Horse" remark in the backdrop of the Centre bearing Rs 12,000 crore towards Jammu & Kashmir police.
The opposition had expressed apprehension that the Centre financing the Jammu & Kashmir police might have been a part of a plan to "retain" the home affairs of Union territory with the central government -- calling the decision a "Trojan Horse" approach.
Lashing out at the opposition during her reply to the Union Budget, Nirmala Sithraman said if at all there was a "Trojan Horse", it was Article 35 and Article 370 -- which kept J&K away from being integrated into India.
"If at all there was a 'Trojan Horse', Article 35A & Article 370 were a real 'Trojan Horse' as it was not even a part of the constitutional amendment. It was put in the appendix... that is also part of the Constitution...but it was not duly brought as the constitutional amendment," Sitharaman said during her reply in Rajya Sabha.
In a veiled attack on the opposition INDIA bloc, the finance minister said those carrying Consitution should explain "was that not a deceit and was that not a 'Trojan Horse' to keep J&K not integrated with India".
In Greek mythology, the term "Trojan Horse" is used for a wooden horse that the Greeks used to hide themselves and enter the city of Troy during war. Taken from mythology, the term is metaphorically used to indicate a deceiving strategy by appearance or a trick.
Intensifying her attack on the opposition, Sitharaman said the doubt about Centre bearing the cost of J&K police's salary was raised deliberately.
"This is done deliberately to create the atmosphere of doubt about India, its governance and the federal structure", she said, adding that "the approach is not healthy".
Sitharaman said, "J&K is being restored to be part of India".
Reiterating BJP's long stand on Jammu & Kashmir even before Article 370's abrogation on August 5, 2019, Sitharaman said, "We belong to the party which firmly believed in Ek Desh, Ek Nishan, Ek Vidhan (one nation, one symbol, one rule) right since 1947."
The finance minister called out Congress on the Kashmir issue, accusing the grand old party of "laying a red carpet" for separatists in the Valley.
"They created permanent and perpetual problems, but now we can develop J&K and contain terrorists," Sitharaman said while mentioning the separatists.
Earlier, the finance minister replied to the Union Budget discussion in Lok Sabha, saying "We have provided substantial financial support of Rs 17,000 crore in the Union Budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir this year. It includes Rs 12,000 crore towards financing the cost of Jammu and Kashmir police".
"That's a burden we want to take on our shoulders so that J&K has more flexibility to spend money on development activities. An additional central assistance of Rs 5,000 crores has also been provided," she further said.