Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said the scrapping of Article 370 was a historic decision adding that Jammu and Kashmir was and will always remain an integral part of India.
Interacting with reporters at Solan, he congratulated the people of the country for the historical and bold decision of taken by the government of India for scrapping Article 370 in Jammu-Kashmir. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for this "momentous decision" in the larger interest of Jammu-Kashmir and the nation.
Thakur said that while working in Jammu-Kashmir state for four years, he himself got an opportunity to realise the intricacies being faced by the people who were unable to take benefit of various Acts and provisions. "Now, this decision would go a long way in maintaining peace, progress and prosperity in the state. The people would get adequate opportunities for employment and tourism and other industries would get boost." he added.
The CM said that the decision to make Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh as Union Territories would ensure speedy and balanced development of the entire region. The Home Minister has already assured that the status of the State would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir after normalcy returns to the state.