New Delhi: On the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35(A) of the Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called the decision of Parliament a “watershed moment that led to a beginning of a new era of progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh”.
In a post on X, Mr Modi said: “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.”
The Prime Minister said the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A) meant that the Constitution was implemented in these places, in letter and spirit, in line with the vision of the great men and women who framed the Constitution.
He said: “With the abrogation came security, dignity and opportunity for the women, youth, backward, tribal and marginalised communities who were deprived of the fruits of development. At the same time, it has ensured that corruption, which plagued J&K for decades, has been kept at bay.”
He added: “I assure the people of J&K and Ladakh that our government will keep working for them and fulfil their aspirations.”
Union home minister Amit Shah said, meanwhile, on Monday that the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to J&K, has ushered in a new era of empowerment for the marginalised sections and strengthened grassroots democracy in the region.
He said the region’s youth have driven socio-economic growth and a cultural revival, making the Modi government’s efforts to foster peace and comprehensive development a grand success.
“Today marks five years since the historic abrogation of #Article 370 and 35A under PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s leadership. This transformative decision has ushered in a new era of empowerment for marginalised sections and strengthened grassroots democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” he wrote on X.
The home minister, who tabled the bill in Parliament on August 5, 2019 for the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, also thanked the PM for this landmark decision and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advance the region’s aspirations and transformative progress.
Article 35A was conceived exclusively for the “benefit” of J&K through a presidential order issued in 1954. It empowered the J&K legislature to define its “permanent residents” and their special rights and privileges.
Article 370, along with Article 35A, was abrogated on August 5, 2019 and the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
