“Start of new era of progress, prosperity in J&K, Ladakh”: PM Modi on 5th-anniversary of Article 370 abrogation

New Delhi [India], August 5 (ANI): Calling the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35(A) a “watershed moment” in the nation’s history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the step was a new era of progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

On the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35(A), PM Modi said that with abrogation came security, dignity and opportunity for the women, youth, backwards, tribal and marginalised communities.

“Today we mark 5 years since the Parliament of India decided to abrogate Articles 370 and 35(A), a watershed moment in our nation’s history. It was the start of a new era of progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” he posted on X.

“It meant that the Constitution of India was implemented in these places in letter and spirit, in line with the vision of the great men and women who made the Constitution.

With abrogation came security, dignity and opportunity for the women, youth, backwards, tribal and marginalised communities who were deprived of the fruits of development,” the Prime Minister added.

He further assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh that the BJP-led central government will keep working for them in the coming times.

“At the same time, it has ensured that corruption, which plagued J-K for decades, has been kept at bay. I assure the people of J&K and Ladakh that our Government will keep working for them and fulfil their aspirations in the coming times,” PM Modi wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Indian National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday criticised the Centre on the 5th anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and said that the BJP neither respects “Kashmiriyat nor upholds ‘Jamhuriyat’ (democracy).”

In a post on X, Kharge said, “BJP’s policy on Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh neither respects ‘Kashmiriyat’ nor upholds ‘Jamhuriyat’! The Modi Govt had claimed that this move would help to fully integrate Jammu and Kashmir, boost the economic development of the region, and prevent terrorism and separatism.”

The Congress chief claimed that the “reality is starkly different” and said, “Since 2019, there have been 683 fatal terror attacks, resulting in the martyrdom of 258 security personnel and the loss of 170 civilian lives. Notably, 25 terror attacks have occurred in the Jammu region since PM Modi’s third oath, claiming the lives of 15 soldiers and injuring 27.”

He claimed that “targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits have become a norm” in the past few years.

Kharge further said during Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra, the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh conveyed to Rahul Gandhi that they “yearn for normalcy.”

“A staggering 65 per cent of government department posts in Jammu & Kashmir remain vacant since 2019. The unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir stands at 10 per cent, with an alarming 18.3 per cent youth unemployment rate. Despite the introduction of the New Industrial Policy in 2021, a mere 3 per cent of investments have materialized on the ground. 40 per cent of projects under the PM’s Development Package, 2015, remain pending. Jammu and Kashmir’s net state domestic product (NSDP) growth rate has declined from 13.28 per cent (April 2015- March 2019) to 8.73 per cent post-2019,” he mentioned in his post.

In August 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.