📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Max Desfor
Politics
Nehru’s ‘Temporary’ Article 370: How Congress’s Kashmir Stance Has Shifted
✍️ ThePrint
🗓 08 Aug 2026, 10:37 AM
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Jawaharlal Nehru once described Article 370 as a temporary provision. In 2019 the central government revoked it, and Congress’s position on Kashmir has since evolved from support to a more nuanced stance.
In 1947, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru referred to Article 370, which granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, as a temporary measure. The provision was retained for decades, but in August 2019 the Indian government revoked it, integrating the region more fully into the Union.
The Congress Party, once a staunch supporter of the article, has since revised its position. While the party historically defended the special status, recent statements indicate a shift towards supporting the central government's integration efforts, albeit with calls for dialogue and protection of local rights.
Political analysts note that the change reflects broader shifts in national politics and the party’s attempt to align with public sentiment on Kashmir. The move also signals Congress’s willingness to engage in a new framework for the region’s governance.
The Congress Party, once a staunch supporter of the article, has since revised its position. While the party historically defended the special status, recent statements indicate a shift towards supporting the central government's integration efforts, albeit with calls for dialogue and protection of local rights.
Political analysts note that the change reflects broader shifts in national politics and the party’s attempt to align with public sentiment on Kashmir. The move also signals Congress’s willingness to engage in a new framework for the region’s governance.