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Seven Years Post-Article 370: Prime Minister Evaluates UT Growth and Rights Expansion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 by highlighting significant infrastructure and socio-economic shifts in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. The administration maintains that constitutional integration has empowered marginalized groups while honori

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Key takeaways

  • Prime Minister Modi cited broad transformation in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh seven years after the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
  • The administration claims the full application of the Constitution has empowered women and marginalized groups previously denied basic rights.
  • The 2019 policy shift is framed as the historical fulfillment of Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s vision for total national integration.
  • Economic growth since the bifurcation has been noted in the healthcare, education, sports, and entrepreneurship sectors.
A portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public address regarding the developmental progress of Union Territories.
A portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public address regarding the developmental progress of Union Territories.

Assessment of Regional Transformation

Marking the seventh anniversary of the removal of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Wednesday that Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh have entered a new era of development. The Prime Minister noted that the 2019 decision to dissolve the region's special status facilitated a broad transformation in daily life, citing expanded physical infrastructure and increased participation in sports, entrepreneurship, and healthcare.

According to the Prime Minister, the full implementation of the Indian Constitution has secured basic rights for women and marginalized communities who were previously excluded. He stated that the central government remains dedicated to ensuring citizens in these Union Territories can contribute to a developed India, or Viksit Bharat.

Background

On August 5, 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government revoked Articles 370 and 35(A). This legislative move ended the special status of the former state, which was subsequently bifurcated into two separate Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The Prime Minister characterized this shift as the fulfillment of a long-standing vision for national integration.

Commemorating Syama Prasad Mookerjee

The anniversary coincides with the 125th birth anniversary year of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Mookerjee, who died in detention in Srinagar in 1953, spent his life advocating for the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. Prime Minister Modi noted that the 2019 policy changes represented the historical realization of Mookerjee's decades-old objectives.

Key Facts

  • The central government revoked Article 370 and Article 35(A) exactly seven years ago.
  • The former state was divided into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in 2019.
  • Government data highlights growth in the education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship sectors since the transition.
  • The administration links current regional progress to the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

Source: The Hindu — National

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