PM says Art 370 worked as a tool for Pak to instigate trouble in Valley
Stating that the provisions of Article 370 and Article 35A only contributed to “separatism, terrorism, corruption and perpetuation of dynasty” in Jammu & Kashmir and was used as a “weapon” by Pakistan to instigate separatist feeling in the State, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that the abrogation of both the Articles would give uniform rights to the people of the State.
He announced that the Centre would soon extend to all employees of J&K and Ladakh same facilities which are accorded to their counterparts in other States.
“In the new set-up, the Centre will provide State employees, including police, same facilities given in other States, like LTC, house rent allowance, education allowance, and facilities under health schemes which were not available in the erstwhile State of J&K,” the Prime Minister said in a nation-wide address in the aftermath of scrapping of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K.
Modi also announced that “very soon” all Central and State posts in J&K and Ladakh would be filled and Central public sector units and private companies would be encouraged to provide employments in both the Union Territories.
The Centre would also organise rallies in both the regions for recruitment drive for Army and paramilitary. He said revenue deficit of J&K was “very big” and cause for worry but the Centre would help reduce it.
The Prime Minister indicated that J&K would not remain a Union Territory for long as he said Ladakh would continue to be the same.
Reaching out to the people of Kashmir and Ladakh, Modi said notwithstanding the scrapping of autonomy Article of 370, people of Kashmir will still elect their own MLAs, municipal corporators and their own “panach” and “panchayats”.
“Your representatives will be elected from you only, same MLAs, council of Ministers and same Chief Minister,” he said assuring the State citizens saying that new measures would “free” J&K from “separatism and terrorism” and take it to newer heights of development.
He said for some time now J&K is under direct the Central rule for speedy implementation of long-pending projects in the areas of irrigation, power, road, railway line, modernisation of airport and those relating to setting up of IIT and AIIMS.
“Ye policies kagaz main thi unko zameen par utara jar aha hain...”, he said alluding to the non-performance of the erstwhile State Governments.
He said none thought that the provision of Article 370 which didn’t yield any benefit to J&K could be abrogated. “Articles of 370 and 35-A led to separatism, terrorism, perpetuation of dynasty and corruption and gave nothing to the State,” he said, adding both were used by Pakistan to instigate people in the State, leading to killing of 42,000 people in last three decades.
But now things would change, he said detailing that the J & K children would now have right to education which was thus far not available to them like in other States of the country. Kashmiri women would also have uniform rights, he said. J & K would now receive uniform wages, SC/ST would get their right to reservation and minorities would have rights under the Minority Act- all which were until now denied to them (under article 370). Similarly, he pointed out that refugees from Pakistan settled in J & K did not have voting rights even after decades of their stay in the erstwhile State.
On the imposition of prohibitory order in J & K, Modi said some steps have been taken as precautionary measures and barring a few who want to foment tension others are cooperating with the Government and responding to inimical elements. “People of Kashmir are responding against Pakistan’s conspiracy to fuel separatism. The situation will be normal,” he said.
Hitting out at the rule of dynasties perpetuated in J & K, the Prime Minister said it did not allow new leadership of youth to take command in the State. Prime Minister appealed to the youth in the State to “ come forward and work for development and new future of Kashmir”.
The Prime Minister said in the new set up business and investment would flow in J & K and Ladakh and take both Union Territories to “great heights”. He specially appealed to Hindi, Telugu and Tamil film industry to invest in both the regions and conduct their film shootings in Kashmir and Ladakh as they used to do in yesteryears. He said J & K and Ladakh could excel in tourism, sports , medicine and horticulture sectors.
Modi said sky is the limit for the development of Kashmir after its integration with other States and applauded Kashmir as the “crown of the country”.
PM’s address to nation (Upreti)