‘SC verdict on Article 370 strengthened spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday lauded the Supreme Court verdict on the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A) and cited it as a reliable method to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the country. He also pointed out that the last four years in Jammu and Kashmir have been marked with renewed faith in grassroots democracy and development, where dignity replaced disillusionment and disappointment. In an opinion piece which appeared in several newspapers on Tuesday following the Supreme Court upholding the validity of the Centre abrogating Article 370, PM Modi underscored how as a BJP member associated with the issue for many decades he had developed a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved. The prime minister in his opinion piece said that he was confident that that people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted development and wanted to contribute to the development of India based on their strengths and skills. “They also want a better quality of life for their children, free from violence and uncertainty,” he wrote, adding his government gave primacy to three pillars of understanding citizens’ concerns, building trust through supportive actions, and prioritising “development, development and more development”. PM Modi reiterated that with its verdict on Monday, the top court had strengthened the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ and had reminded the country that what defines the people are bonds of unity and a shared commitment to good governance. “Today, every child in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is born with a clean canvas, where he or she can paint a future full of vibrant aspirations. Today, the dreams of the people are no longer prisoners of the past but about possibilities for the future,” he said. “Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh’s breathtaking landscapes, serene valleys, and majestic mountains have captivated the hearts of poets, artists and adventurers for generations. It is a place where the sublime meets the extraordinary, where the Himalayas reach for the sky, and where the pristine waters of its lakes and rivers mirror the heavens. But, for the last seven decades, these places have witnessed the worst form of violence and instability, something which the wonderful people never deserved,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, due to centuries of colonisation, most notably economic and mental subjugation, we became a confused society of sorts. Rather than taking a clear position on very basic things, we allowed duality, leading to confusion. Sadly, Jammu and Kashmir became a big victim of such a mind-set. At the time of independence, we had a choice of making a fresh start for national integration. Instead, we decided to continue with the confused society approach even if it meant ignoring the long-term national interests,” he said taking a rather obvious swipe at the Congress government which had been in power for several years post-Independence. The Supreme Court in its recent judgement had observed that the decision taken on 5 August, 2019, by the then BJP government at the Centre was done with the aim of enhancing constitutional integration and not disintegration. The Court also recognised that Article 370 was not permanent in nature in the Union Territory. The Prime Minister emphasised that he had always wanted to work to alleviate the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “It was always my firm belief that what had happened in Jammu and Kashmir was a great betrayal- to our nation and to the people living there. It was also my strong desire to do whatever I can to remove this blot, this injustice done to the people,” he wrote. “In very basic words- Articles 370 and 35 (A) were like major obstacles. It seemed like an unbreakable wall and the sufferers were the poor and downtrodden. Articles 370 and 35(A) ensured that the people of Jammu and Kashmir never got the rights and development that the rest of their fellow Indians got. Due to these Articles, a distance was created between people belonging to the same nation. Due to this distance, many people from our nation who wanted to work to solve the problems of Jammu and Kashmir were unable to do so even if they clearly felt the pain of the people there,” he wrote. “In order to further strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s development journey, we decided that our ministers would frequently go there and interact with people directly. These frequent visits also played a crucial role in building goodwill in Jammu and Kashmir. From May 2014 to March 2019, over 150 ministerial visits took place. This is a record in itself. The special package of 2015 was a significant step in addressing the developmental needs of Jammu and Kashmir. It contained initiatives for infrastructure development, job creation, tourism promotion and support to the handicraft industry.” PM Modi elaborated that the historical day of 5 August is etched in the hearts and minds of every Indian. “Our Parliament approved the decision to abrogate Article 370. Since then, much has changed in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The judicial court verdict came in December 2023 but seeing the wave of development across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, the people’s court has given a resounding thumbs up to the Parliament’s decision of abolishing Articles 370 and 35(A) for four years now,” he wrote.