Article 370 had sowed the seeds of separatism in the minds of Kashmir Youth

Srinagar, Jan 2: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah said that Article 370 had sowed the seeds of separatism in the minds of the youth of the Kashmir Valley.

He questioned why terrorism has not arisen in many parts of the country that have significant Muslim populations.

He pointed out that states like Gujarat and Rajasthan also share borders with Pakistan, yet terrorism did not emerge there. He said that Article 370 created the misconception that the connection between India and Kashmir was temporary, which sowed the seeds of separatism that eventually turned into terrorism. He expressed regret over the unfortunate fact that more than 40,000 people fell victim to terrorism and that Kashmir’s development was set back by decades.

He further remarked that for years, terrorism wreaked havoc in the region, while the nation stood by as a silent spectator, he made these remarks after releasing the book ‘Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages’ in New Delhi today. Many dignitaries including Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan and Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and Editor of the book Prof. Raghuvendra Tanwar were present on the occasion.

Amit Shah said that Articles 370 and 35A were obstacles, preventing Kashmir from being fully integrated with our country. Shah noted that Prime Minister Modi’s resolute determination led to the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. He further said that by abolishing Article 370, Modi ji ended a tainted chapter of post-independence history and initiated a new chapter of Kashmir’s development in tandem with the rest of India.

Amit Shah highlighted that after the abrogation of Article 370, there has been a reduction of over 70 per cent in terrorist incidents in Kashmir, which proves that Article 370 was a facilitator of terrorism. He mentioned that in 2018, there were 2,100 incidents of stone-pelting in Kashmir, whereas in 2023, not a single such incident occurred. He highlighted that over 25,000 panchayat members, including sarpanches, block panchayat members, and district panchayat members, were elected and are actively working for the development of their areas, thereby strengthening the roots of democracy in Kashmir. Shah pointed out that there was a record turnout in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 33 years. He further added that industries are now setting up in the region, and last year 2 crore 11 lakh tourists visited Kashmir. In 2023 alone, 324 serials or films were shot in the region. For the first time in 33 years, theaters in the Kashmir Valley held night shows, processions for Tazia were organized, and a Krishna Janmashtami tableau was seen at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. He emphasized that all these developments have taken place in the five years since the abrogation of Article 370.

In his address, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation emphasized that the National Book Trust (NBT), through its latest publication, has effectively dismantled a long-standing myth about India by presenting facts and evidence, thereby establishing historical truths. He said that there was a myth that India was never united and the idea of independence for this country was meaningless — a misconception that many had come to accept as truth. The Union Home Minister highlighted that while for most of the countries geo-politics have defined their boundaries, India’s case is unique where this nation has been defined by its geo-cultural expanse, and whose borders are made up of from cultural unity. He elaborated that India’s essence lies in its geo-cultural identity, with its cultural fabric binding the nation from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Bengal to Gujarat. He argued that interpreting India solely as a geo-political entity overlooks its true nature. Instead, a deep understanding of India requires viewing it through the lens of its geo-cultural identity. He stressed the importance of historical research and academic institutions in promoting this perspective to the world, as it is crucial to understanding the elements that culturally unify the country.