Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 4: Fully justifying the abrogation of Article 370 by Narendra Modi led Government, Union Minister in PMO with Independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the controversial Article had made J&K fountain head of Pak sponsored terrorism.
Talking to reporters after the National Unity Campaign Workshop in Guwahati today, Dr Jitendra Singh said that abrogation of Article 370 was not only in the interest of J&K but whole of India because it has become vulnerable as Pakistan has started promotion, perpetration and export of terrorism to entire country from J&K taking the advantage of controversial article.
He said every section of society in Kashmir because of isolation became susceptible to all kind of abnormal situations and terror activities sponsored by Pakistan. They were misled by some vested class of political interests who for safeguard of their own survival developed a malafide interest in creation of abnormal situation in the State, he said, adding these elements disrupted peace in Kashmir with the help of Pakistan.
Dr Jitendra Singh said if given chance Pak would like to export the terror to entire country through Kashmir by taking advantage of Article 370 and with its abrogation, the terror activities have been put to check and designs of Pakistan and vested elements were frustrated.
Dr Jitendra Singh made it clear that abrogation of Article 370 should not only be viewed from this point that it would benefit J&K and Ladakh only, but it will help in controlling terror all over the country besides ushering in an era of development and progress for the erstwhile State of J&K.
The Union Minister said moreover J&K will get an opportunity to replicate the North Eastern Model of development initiated by Narendra Modi Government five years back for peripheral and far—flung backward States of country. With this model of development, North East and J&K which too have the same topography which NE has will come at par with others states of country in development and prosperity.
He said there was no rail link to Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh five years back but now the countries like Japan and Israel are making huge investments there. Sikkim also did not have an airport for last four decades which has been constructed now. He said Modi Government gave top priority to the development of these States and focused attention has been paid to the development of 11 States of the country in this regard. They included eight States of North East, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and J&K, he added.
He said presently “we have Airport at Guwahati”. He added the people of the J&K as well as Ladakh especially the weaker sections of the society will take all benefits of the Government welfare schemes and measures of which they were deprived so far due to Article 370. The weaker sections of the society can reap the fruits of different welfare schemes meant for them which earlier could not be extended due to the controversial Article, he added.
He said the Ladakh region which was deprived of all the benefits as it faced political discrimination for decades together and with the grant of UT status the people there will now get all the benefits available to the weaker sections all over the country.
BJP MPs Meenakshi Lekhi and MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgayal were also present in the press conference.
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