370 abrogation raised new hope in J&K, Ladakh: PM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India which granted special status to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir has raised new hope of development for the people of J&K and Ladakh.
“The decision (to abrogate Article 370) of the Constitution might seem a politically difficult one, but it has raised a new hope of development for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,’’ Modi said while speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.
The Central Government had scrapped special Constitutional provisions of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 and bifurcated the erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The Prime Minister said Indian citizenship to those facing persecution in their home countries will ensure that they get a better tomorrow. Click here to watch video
He said although a lot of apprehensions were expressed ahead of the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict, after it was pronounced, the people of the country proved all such apprehensions wrong.
“The Ram Janmabhoomi verdict proved that we can have a better tomorrow. We cannot be chained by the past. People were casting aspersions that the verdict will cause unrest in the country, but the people of the country proved them wrong,” he said.
The Citizenship (Amen-dment) Bill, which seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslims facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday and is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week.
“Hundreds of people from the neighbouring countries, who are facing persecution in these countries, those who have faith in Mother India, with the road open for Indian citizenship, their better future will be ensured,” Modi said, without naming the proposed law.