J&K will not remain a Union Territory for long: PM
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed on Thursday for the first time after abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. During his address, the PM blamed Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, for slowing down the pace of development in the region.
During his speech, the Prime Minister reiterated his government’s stance that J&K will not remain an union territory forever, and will be reinstated to statehood once situation return to normal. He said that the people of J&K will soon be able to elect their representatives, like before.
Earlier this week, the J&K Reorganisation Bill was passed in parliament. The new bill seeks to divide the state of Jammu and Kashmir in two Union Territories — that of Ladakh and of J&K. Even though Modi has welcomed the move in a Tweet, the Prime Minister is yet to make an official statement on the issue.
He categorically said that Jammu and Kashmir will not remain a Union Territory for long, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured in his address to the nation this evening on the government’s move to end special powers to the state and splitting it into two union territories. PM Modi also assured that the situation in the state would return to normal soon.
“This was a step taken after a lot of thought… I don’t think there will be a need to keep Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory for long, though Union Territory status will be retained for Ladakh,” PM Modi said in a 38-minute speech. The reason, he indicated, was that Central rule over the last year has been beneficial to the state and led to good governance.
“We want elections to be held. People will soon get a chance to choose their elected representatives. They will choose their MLAs, their ministers and their Chief Minister,” he added.
“Some people are opposed to the government move, I respect their opposition, it is essential in a democracy. The Centre is responding to them and is working to improve things. I urge them to act in the nation’s interest and help the government and the nation in creating a new environment in the region,” he said.
Article 370, from which Jammu and Kashmir drew its special status, also gave the people “nepotism, terrorism and separatism and nothing else, he said, pointing out that over the last three decades, more than “42,000 innocents have been killed” in the state.
Calling the government’s decision “historic”, he said it is the beginning of a “new era” when all citizens have equal rights and responsibilities. Indian laws — which protect the rights of a billion people — will now be available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which had its own penal code – the Ranbir Penal Code – as part of its special status.
“1.5 crore people never benefited from the country’s laws,” he said. “The right to education never reached Jammu and Kashmir’s children, sanitation workers never got benefits, strong laws to prevent atrocities on Dalits weren’t applicable, laws protecting the rights of minorities were skipped, labour laws never reached its people,” he said.
Since Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir has been paralysed by an unprecedented lockdown to prevent any backlash over the government’s big move. More than 50,000 security personnel have been pushed into Jammu and Kashmir in addition to the existing troops. There has been a complete communications blackout – as part of which phone services and internet connections have been snapped.
Prohibitory orders are in place as part of which large gatherings and meetings are banned and the state’s mainstream political leaders, including former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have been under arrest.
People of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were deprived of their rights. With the abrogation of Article 370, the dreams of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, B.R. Ambedkar and Syama Prasad Mookerjee have been fulfilled. A new era in Jammu and Kashmir has now started
. Citizens now have equal rights and responsibilities. Article 370 was harming the people and children of Jammu and Kashmir, and their loss was never discussed. Article 370 and Article 35A dragged Jammu and Kashmir towards terrorism, dynasty politics and corruption.
Article 370 was used as a tool by Pakistan to terrorise Kashmiris. Nearly 42,000 people died over the last three decades. Earlier, laws made by the Parliament didn’t benefit the people of Kashmir. Now all laws made by the Parliament will be applicable in J&K and Ladakh.
All Central and state government posts would be filled in Jammu and Kashmir. This will lead to employment generation. Private firms would also be encouraged to generate employment opportunities. Work will be accelerated on all projects and projects related to road and rail will be initiated.
Kashmir was the preferred destination for Bollywood movies. Now when the situation is normal, people from world over would shoot movies there. The region has the potential to become the world’s biggest tourism destination. Filmmaking would provide employment.
People who came to India after 1947 couldn’t contest polls in Jammu and Kashmir… they had rights everywhere else, but not in Jammu and Kashmir. With the scrapping of Article 370, rights to those who had migrated will be restored.
Assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir. People will have a Chief Minister, MLAs and ministers. People of J&K will choose their own representatives. Jammu and Kashmir will touch new heights of development and attract people from all over the world. Ease of living will improve the lives of people in the region.
In Ladakh, a plant called Solo, which is a boon to those living in high altitudes, can be sold worldwide as it has vast medicinal properties. Jammu and Kashmir didn’t develop at the desired pace. The future of the people of J&K and Ladakh will become brighter now. The Parliament’s laws will be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.} (With Agency Inputs ).
