PM Modi's Address To Nation On Kashmir; Here Are Major Takeaways

"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", PM Modi said in his address.

*TV Grab* Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation, in New Delhi, Thursday, Aug 8, 2019. (DD News/PTI Photo)(PTI8_8_2019_000199B)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a 40-minute long address to the nation, hailed his government’s move of scrapping Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir doing away with its special status, and said that the Article was a hurdle in the path of progress of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the Article yielded no benefits but only gave the (then) state problems of terrorism and separatism. Here are the ten major takeaways from his address:

1. People of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh were deprived of their rights. With the abrogation of Article 370, the dream of Sardar Patel, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Atal ji and crores of Indians has been fulfilled.

 

2. Article 370 was being used as a tool by Pakistan to propagate terrorism in Kashmir. 42,000 innocent lives have been lost in the past three decades in the valley due to terrorism. Development of Jammu and Kashmir could not take place at a pace it should have. This move (scrapping of Article 370) will not only help in improving the present but also will help to secure the future of those living in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

3. Article 370 and Article 35 (A) did not give anything except separatism, corruption, terrorism and family rule.

 

4. Over 1.5 crore people of Jammu and Kashmir were being denied benefits of legislation meant for the entire country:

 

5. Citizens will 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.

 

6. Soon the process of filling vacant posts in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will begin. This will provide employment opportunities to the local youth. Centre’s public sector units and private sector companies will also be encouraged to provide jobs.

 

7. 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.

 

8. 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.

 

9. 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.

 

10. Assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir. People of Kashmir will elect their own representatives from among themselves.

 

11. As Jammu and Kashmir will see more and more development, its status of Union Territory may not remain for long. Ladakh will continue to remain a Union Territory.

 

12. Government respects objections of those who are opposed to the decision and was working to address them. PM, however, asked them to put national interests supreme and help government in giving Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh a new direction.