New Delhi, Delhi, India

Minister of State (MoS) for Prime Minister`s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Saturday slammed the National Conference (NC) and the Congress and said both the parties used the special status to Jammu and Kashmir as per their convenience. 

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"This special status is an alibi created by the National Conference and Congress. When it suits them they are special, when it does not they aren`t,'' he said.

During the blackest era of independent India, during the Emergency, when the term of the state assemblies was extended to six years, the then chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdullah, promptly adopted this legislation, without caring for special status. But just three years later, when it was reversed by the Morarji government, Abdullah again became special and refused. As a result, even after 40 years today, J&K is the only state whose assembly has a six-year term, Singh reportedly told news agency ANI.

Singh pointed out that all provisions of the Constitution related to J&K have been made during Congress and NC rule.

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"All the provisions of the Constitution of India which apply to the state of J&K took place during Congress and NC rule. The merits and demerits of the Special Status apart, the sincerity to it itself smells of deep-rooted opportunism," he added.