As India observed the seventh anniversary of the revocation of Article 370 on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his government's dedication to advancing the development and progress of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, along with the welfare of the people living there.
He remarked that over the past seven years, the Union Territories have undergone substantial changes in various sectors.
On August 5, 2019, the Central government under Prime Minister Modi nullified Article 370 by issuing a Presidential Order, thereby revoking the special status of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir and terminating the constitutional provisions that had granted it special autonomy.
Posting on X, Prime Minister Modi noted that seven years ago today, Articles 370 and 35(A) were consigned to history, ushering in a decisive new chapter for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Since that time, the lives of the people in J&K and Ladakh have undergone extensive change. Infrastructure has grown, and opportunities in fields like education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and sports have increased. Women and marginalized communities who had been deprived of their fundamental constitutional rights for decades have now been empowered due to the complete implementation of the Constitution of India," he said.
The Prime Minister stated that this year, August 5 holds even greater importance, as the nation will mark the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Prime Minister Modi stated that his enduring dedication to national unity continues to motivate generations, and that the vision he had decades ago was historically realized on 5 August 2019.
He further stated, "We reiterate our dedication to advancing Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh, and to ensuring that every citizen has the chance to aspire, succeed, and play a role in building a developed Bharat.
"Article 370 was incorporated into the Constitution of India when it took effect in 1950. From the outset, it was among the most contentious constitutional provisions, as it conferred special status on the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
On August 5, 2019, the provision was effectively nullified, and Jammu and Kashmir was concurrently restructured into two distinct Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh thereby ending its previous constitutional status.
