Article 370 Was Biggest Hurdle In J&K’s Development, Says PM Modi In Jammu

Article 370 Was Biggest Hurdle In J&K’s Development, Says PM Modi In Jammu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Tuesday that Article 370, which conferred special status upon Jammu and Kashmir before being abrogated in 2019, posed the greatest obstacle to the former state’s development.

Modi underscored that since the annulment of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir, now a Union Territory, has experienced equitable progress across regions and sectors.

During a rally following the inauguration of numerous projects worth over Rs 32,000 crore for Jammu and Kashmir and Rs 13,500 crore for other regions, he emphasized that the government has extended its services to the doorsteps of the people in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time. “This is Modi’s guarantee and this will continue,” he affirmed.

The prime minister highlighted that Article 370 was the primary impediment hindering comprehensive development in Jammu and Kashmir, and the BJP government successfully repealed it.

Addressing the audience, Modi sought support from women to empower one crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in Jammu.

He remarked, “A government whose priority is the welfare of just one family cannot think of the welfare of the common people. I am happy to see Jammu and Kashmir is getting free from dynastic rule,” emphasizing the shift away from dynastic politics.

Modi stressed that a developed India implies a developed Jammu and Kashmir, noting that the region has seen unprecedented progress since the abrogation of Article 370.

He highlighted the assurance of social justice for the common people of Jammu and Kashmir, which was enshrined in the Constitution after the annulment of Article 370, generating enthusiasm globally for the region’s development.

Referring to the inaugurated and foundation-laid projects, Modi characterized the day as remarkable for Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that these initiatives would drive holistic development in the region.

The prime minister pointed out that in the last decade, a record number of schools, colleges, and universities were established across India, including the establishment of 50 new degree colleges in Jammu and Kashmir alone.

Among the development projects launched or initiated by Modi are those related to education, railways, aviation, and road sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, while projects for other parts of the country encompass institutions like IITs, IIMs, and central universities.

Additionally, Modi distributed appointment letters to approximately 1,500 newly recruited government employees of Jammu and Kashmir and engaged with beneficiaries of various schemes as part of the ‘Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu’ program.