New Delhi, 05 August (H.S.):

On the seventh anniversary of the removal of Article 370, which had acted as an impediment to the development of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A seven years ago marked the beginning of a decisive new chapter in the progress of the two Union Territories.

The Prime Minister said that the historic decision has brought significant changes to the lives of people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He added that August 5 holds even greater significance this year as the nation is celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee.

Highlighting the transformation witnessed in both Union Territories in a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said that infrastructure has expanded and opportunities have increased in sectors such as education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and sports. He said that women and marginalised communities, who were deprived of their fundamental constitutional rights for decades, have been empowered due to the full implementation of the Constitution of India.

Remembering Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the Prime Minister said that his lifelong dedication to national unity continues to inspire generations. He added that the vision imagined by Mukherjee decades ago was historically realised on August 5, 2019.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the government remains committed to the progress of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He said that the aim is to ensure that every citizen gets the opportunity to dream big, achieve their aspirations and contribute to building a developed India.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a post on X that the removal of the obstacles created by Article 370 has ushered in an era of peace in Jammu and Kashmir. The ministry stated that much has changed in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and that incidents of stone-pelting have become a thing of the past.

According to the ministry, stone-pelting incidents have remained almost zero since 2022, no shutdowns have been reported since 2023, and Jammu and Kashmir recorded a record 23 crore tourist visits in 2024. It also highlighted achievements such as 18 GI-tagged handicraft products, the Chenab Bridge, the Sonamarg Tunnel, the first Vande Bharat service and the first electric train in Kashmir, among several other historic milestones achieved during this period.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar