Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday defended the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the move has resulted in a significant decline in terror incidents.
In an interview , the prime minister that organised shutdowns, stone pelting that disrupted normal life in Kashmir, are things of the past. Modi suggested the reporter to visit the Union territory to witness firsthand the “sweeping positive changes happening on the ground”.
People Have a New Hope In Their Lives – PM Modi
Referring to his visit to Srinagar last month, the PM Modi said,”For the first time, people have a new hope in their lives. The process of development, good governance and empowerment of the people is to be seen to be believed.”
“People are reaping the peace dividend,” he told.
The Election Commission has announced that the assembly elections in the now Union territory will be held immediately after the general elections.
More Than 21 Million Tourists Visited J&K
The PM Modi said that more than 21 million tourists visited J&K last year. He added that sports is being seen as a career path for several youth in the UT. He said that the abrogation of Article 370 resulted in ‘a new dawn’ for Kashmiri women who now have the same rights as male counterparts in terms of inheriting property or transferring property to their children, regardless of their marital status or residency.
About Article 370 Abrogation
On August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the then-state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories. On December 11 last year, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court upheld the decision, directing the holding of elections in the region by September 2024 and the restoration of the statehood at the earliest.