TARUN CHUGH

The name of the person, who made India strong, prosperous and beautiful with policy and intention to bring his resolve to fruition is Narendra Modi.

While the Supreme Court on Monday showed a mirror to the political parties that are anti-development, supporters of corruption and terrorism and patrons of nepotism, Home Minister Amit Shah in the Parliament exposed the anti-development and pro-terrorism face of the opposition. When Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, 2019, the sting of seven decades ended and the long awaited demand of Akhand Bharat– One India– was fulfilled and development and confidence emerged in Kashmir. With the rise of development and confidence in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its picture and destiny changed. When terrorism and nepotism subsided, the picture of a happy Kashmir became visible to the world. But people who are anti-development, patrons of terrorism and nepotism were unhappy with this and left no stone unturned to create obstacles.

On Monday, the Supreme Court, through its supreme decision, justified the decision of the Narendra Modi government, which gave glory to Kashmir in the light of development and nationalism, and led to the rise of Kashmiriyat in Kashmir.

• Development and trust emerged in Kashmir under leadership of PM Modi; fate and picture of Valley changed

The result of the abolition of Article 370, which had isolated Kashmir, was that a new path was opened for developing Kashmir as a tourist capital and that path is of development, of nationalism, of a bright future, of national unity and integrity.

This strong will and determination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the dream of one India, united India come true by abolishing Article 370 from Kashmir on 5 August 2019. After the abolition of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi blew such a wind of development and trust in Jammu and Kashmir, due to which the fragrance of Indianness started spreading in the valley of Kashmir.

Kashmir, which used to be a den of fear and anti-national forces, is seeing the essence of patriotism there. Kashmir, once caught in the clutches of nepotism and terrorism, is today raising the flag of nationalism and development. Social, geographical and economic integration of Jammu and Kashmir was ensured.
Jammu and Kashmir was one of the backward states and union territories of the country in the field of industrialization. Due to Article 370, under the constitutional and administrative system of Jammu and Kashmir, before August 5, 2019, no citizen or investor from India or abroad could settle permanently in Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, external investors were reluctant to invest in Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorist violence was an obstacle to its economic-industrial development. Unemployment was increasing. Only influential people got government jobs. Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir was treated differently from other states of India. Due to this it was away from the mainstream of the state. Due to Article 370, the Parliament had the right to make laws regarding defence, foreign affairs and communications regarding Jammu and Kashmir, but to implement the law related to any other subject, the Center had to take the approval of the state government. The Parliament of India could make laws regarding Jammu and Kashmir only in a limited area. Due to Article 370, most of the sections of the Indian Constitution were not applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. 170 laws of the Center which were not applicable earlier, have now been implemented in this area. At present all central laws are applicable in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Now the picture has completely changed. Today the situation has completely changed.

With the abolition of Article 370, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have now joined the mainstream of the country. There has been a rise in the establishment of trade and industries. Its impact is visible positively on the GDP of the state. After the removal of Article 370, the effect of the new industrial policy guaranteeing the security of investment in Jammu and Kashmir is beginning to be seen. Many agreements have been signed for investment. Many big groups of the country associated with health and medical education sector have also come to invest. Along with this, in the fields of tourism, film tourism, horticulture, post-harvest management, agriculture, food processing, silk industry, health, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, IT, renewable energy, infrastructure and real estate, handloom and handicrafts and education. The picture has also changed.

Step by step reducing the gap of decades between Kashmir and the country, the Narendra Modi government ended the pain of 70 years by abrogating the provisions of Article 370 from Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh, which were lagging behind in the race of development. Now it has been connected to the mainstream and brought at par with other states of the country. Since last two years, this area has embarked on a new journey of development.

One year after independence from Article 370, district and district panchayat elections along with villages were successfully conducted here. The Blok Development Council elections, held for the first time in 2019, saw a voter turnout of 98.3 percent. There was record participation in the district level elections also. The Valmiki community, the Gorkha people and the uprooted and driven refugees from West Pakistan got the right to vote in the state elections for the first time.

In 1990, the way was cleared for resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits who were driven away from Kashmir Valley. The work of creating jobs and transit accommodation for returning Kashmiri migrants started. Protection of the rights of girls and their children who marry outside Jammu and Kashmir has also been ensured.

The work of Shahpur-Kandi Dam Project and Ratle Hydroelectric Project, which had been stalled for decades, was started. Approval has been given to open two AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir. The Central Government extended the benefits of all the individual beneficiary schemes to the people in Jammu and Kashmir.

Many development projects have been completed under the Prime Minister’s Development Package 2015. The Central Government has announced the establishment of a Central University with a Center for Buddhist Studies in Ladakh.

Devoted to the basic mantra of Antyodaya and the spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas, the Narendra Modi government has given a new pace to the development in Jammu and Kashmir, which was neglected for decades. Now both the picture and destiny of Kashmir are changing and soon Jammu and Kashmir will stand in the line of developed states of the country.

(The author is the National General Secretary of BJP).