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Art 370 has given separatism, terrorism in J&K: PM, hails its revocation 'historic'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday strongly defended his government's decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the provision has not given anything except separatism, corruption and family rule to the state, and Pakistan has used it as a tool to spread terrorism.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday strongly defended his government's decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the provision has not given anything except separatism, corruption and family rule to the state, and Pakistan has used it as a tool to spread terrorism. In his televised address to the nation, Modi hailed his government's decision to revoke the Article as "historic" and said a new era has begun in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. "The dream of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sardar Vallabhai Patel and crores of Indians has now been fulfiled," he said.
Asserting that no one has been able to justify how the Article 370 and Article 35A was benefitting people of the state, the Prime Minister said these provisions did not give anything except separatism, corruption, terrorism and family rule. Attacking Pakistan, which has termed India's move as "unilateral and illegal" and strongly protested by downgrading diplomatic ties, Modi said Pakistan used Article 370 as a "tool to spread terrorism".
"In last three decades, over 42,000 people lost their lives," he said, adding "we will rid J&K of terrorism and separatism under new measures." He also said over 1.5 crore people of J&K were being denied benefits of legislations meant for the entire country. Spelling out his government's development plans for J&K, he said state government employees including police will soon get benefits on par with employees of other Union Territories and all vacant posts in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh will be filled, creating employment opportunities.
He also assured people of J&K that they will get the opportunity to elect their representatives in a transparent way. "As J&K will see more and more development. I do not think it will remain Union Territory for long. Ladakh will remain the UT," Modi said. Earlier this week, the Union government revoked Article 370 to withdraw special status to J&K and bifurcated the region into two UTs --Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh. They also got Parliament nod for it.
These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.30 pm.
DEL32 KASHMIR-SITUATION Walking and hitching ride along Kashmir's desolate highways Srinagar: Kashmir's uncertain, the restive situation has pushed public transport off the roads, leaving many people with no option but to flag down the odd private vehicle passing through the desolate highways of the Valley.
DEL68 JK-DOVAL Ensure common people in J-K not harassed: NSA Doval instructs security forces Srinagar: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has instructed security forces in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure that common people are not harassed in any manner during the current tight restrictions imposed in the wake of abrogation of constitutional provisions that accorded special status to the state, officials said Thursday.
DEL63 JK-CONG-LD AZAD Ghulam Nabi Azad not allowed to enter J-K, says central govt 'mercilessly massacred' state New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was barred from entering Jammu and Kashmir and sent back from the Srinagar airport on Thursday, accused the BJP-led central government of having "mercilessly massacred" the state by "dismembering" it into two parts.
DEL53 CPIM-J&K-VISIT (R) Yechury informs J&K guv of impending visit, hopes admin will not create hurdles New Delhi: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury wrote to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday, informing him of his "proposed" visit to the state and saying he hoped that the "administration will not create any hurdles".
DES21 UP-LD AMU Security strengthened on AMU campus to deal with a possible breach of peace Aligarh (UP): Security has been strengthened on the AMU campus here to deal with any possible protests by Kashmiri students in the wake of the Centre's decision to revoke some provisions of Article 370.
DES22 UP-MADARSA-2NDLD-I DAY Celebrate I-Day with pomp: UP govt to madrasas Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education has issued an advisory to all madrasas in the state to celebrate Independence Day with traditional fervour, but the missive has not gone down well with the representative teachers' body.
DEL39 PB-LD KARTARPUR Centre okayed Pb ministers' Pak visit last week, state govt hopes it's still on Chandigarh: Days before Islamabad downgraded its ties with India for revoking Jammu and Kashmir's special status, a Punjab delegation got the all-clear from the Centre to visit Pakistan in connection with the Kartapur corridor project.
NRG13 PB-PAK TRADE Trade suspension to hit Pakistan: Pb exporters Chan' Chandigarh: Punjab-based exporters on Thursday said Pakistan's decision to suspend bilateral trade would "hit" the neighbouring nation itself as it imports commodities like vegetables, and spices through Attari-Wagah route.
DES23 PB-COURT-SENTENCE Bhim Tank murder case: 24 sentenced to life imprisonment in Punjab Fazilka (Pb): A court here on Thursday sentenced 24 accused to life imprisonment in a murder case of a 27-year-old Dalit man in Punjab's Abohar in 2015.
