Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that there has been significant progress in the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after Article 370 of the Constitution was abrogated.
He made these remarks on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
One of the BJP’s key election promises, the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, was carried out by the central government led by Prime Minister Modi through a parliamentary resolution on Aug. 5, 2019, amid strong opposition from opposition parties. Accordingly, Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was removed, and the state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union Territories (Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh). The Supreme Court upheld in 2023 that this move by the central government was constitutionally valid.
7th anniversary: The 7th anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 was observed on Wednesday. On this occasion, Prime Minister Modi said in an X post:
Seven years ago on this very day, Article 370 of the Constitution became a thing of the past. This marks a decisive new chapter in the development journey of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Central Government is committed to ensuring the development of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, while giving every citizen there the opportunity to dream big, achieve, and contribute to building a developed India. In both Union Territories, infrastructure facilities are being expanded, and opportunities in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and sports are being increased.
Women’s empowerment: With the Constitution fully implemented, women, marginalized communities, and all those who were denied the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution for many years have been empowered. Since the repeal of Article 370, there has been significant progress in the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
This year, August 5 has gained added significance as it marks the 125th birth anniversary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. His lifelong dedication to national unity continues to inspire generations.
Prime Minister Modi said that the dream he saw many years ago was fulfilled with historic significance on August 5, 2019.
Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor to the BJP, fought for the abrogation of Article 370 and for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India. It is noteworthy that he died in 1953 while being held in preventive detention in Srinagar.
Heavy security in Jammu and Kashmir
Protests were held on Wednesday in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, and other places by the ruling National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party, condemning the abrogation of Article 370 and demanding statehood for Jammu and Kashmir again. In view of this, heavy security arrangements were put in place.
Considering the safety of the pilgrims, the Amarnath Yatra was suspended for one day on Wednesday from the Jammu camp.
