“Biggest roadblock to development…”: PM Modi defends call to roll back Art 370

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 20 (ANI): On a visit to Jammu during which he inaugurated an AIIMS and launched a bouquet of other development projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi weighed in on the Centre’s decision to strip the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir of the special privileges under Article 370 of the Constitution, they were the biggest hurdles to the development and progress of the current Union Territory.

“Article 370 was the biggest roadblock to the development (to the erstwhile state) of Jammu and Kashmir. However, our government abrogated the act to further integrate Jammu and Kashmir with India. As we all can see, the region has entered a new era of development and progress and is bounding to new heights. This could have not happened had Article 370 still been in force here. It is because of more sweeping decisions like Article 370 that I have urged people to help us win 370 seats and NDA 400 seats in the (2024 Lok Sabha) elections,” PM Modi said after addressing a rally during which he launched multiple projects worth over Rs 32,000 crore for Jammu and Kashmir and more worth Rs 13,500 crore for other parts of the country.

Invoking the soon-to-be-released film ‘Article 370’, starring Yami Gautam in the lead role, PM Modi said it will help debunk myths around the Centre’s decision and put the people square with facts.

“I am told that a film titled ‘Article 370’ is going to be released this week. It is good that movies are being made on such subjects as it will bust all myths and falsehoods and help people gather correct information around Article 370 and the decision to roll it back,” he said.

The makers of the film unveiled the trailer on Thursday.

The trailer of the film takes viewers back to the dark days of terrorism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, with the protagonist Yami, in a dialogue, referring to the erstwhile state as a ‘lost case’ and vents out her frustration at how the unique status of Jammu and Kashmir makes her job of an intelligence officer all the more difficult.

The film also depicts in vivid detail how the Valley came to be the hotbed of cross-border terrorism and militancy. It narrates the story of an intelligence officer, who is drafted into the NIA and assigned a mission in Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision to roll back Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir marked the fulfillment of one of the BJP’s key resolutions.

The film also goes on to narrate the immediate political aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 in the face of protests, dissidence and outrage from a section of the country’s political class.

In a move that many did not see coming at the time, the Centre, on August 5, 2019, decided to revoke the privileges accorded to the Valley under Article 370 of the Constitution.

On August 9, the Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, splitting the erstwhile state into two Union Territories–Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday was only the second by PM Modi since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and assumes significance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Also, the visit by PM Modi marked the first since the Supreme Court, last December, held the abrogation of Article 370 as constitutionally valid while directing incremental steps for the restoration of full statehood and Assembly elections by September 2024.

PM Modi, while launching multiple development projects in Jammu, said the Centre, for the very first time, reached the doorsteps of the people in the Union Territory.

“This is Modi’s guarantee, and this will continue,” he said.

PM Modi also came down hard on the Opposition, saying the Union Territory had to “bear the brunt of dynastic politics” for decades.

“Jammu and Kashmir had to bear the brunt of dynastic politics for decades. They (leaders of previous governments) were only concerned about their families, not about your interests, your families. The youth of the region has borne the brunt of this,” PM Modi said, adding, “I am happy that Jammu and Kashmir is today free from the shackles of dynastic politics.”

“There was a time when schools were set on fire. Today, they are being decked up to welcome students. Healthcare services are also improving rapidly in Jammu and Kashmir. Before 2014, there were 4 medical colleges here. Now, there are 12.”

He launched multiple development projects, including for education, railway, aviation and road sectors, for the Union Territory worth over Rs 32,000 crore.

He started his speech with a Dogri couplet of Padma Sachdev ‘Mitthdi-e- Dogri Di Boli Te Khand Mithi Dogri’.

He said that 10 years ago, people of Jammu and Kashmir were unaware what true development stands for.

“In December 2013, I was here for the BJP’s Lalkar rally. I remember questioning at the time why educational institutions such as IITs and IIMs could not come up in Jammu. We fulfilled those promises and today, Jammu is home to an IIT and IIM. That is why people ‘

Modi ki guarantee yani guarantee pura hone ki guarantee

‘ (this is why Modi’s guarantee is a guarantee to fulfill all guarantees.”