The Union government’s decision to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution has not only helped realise the long-pending dream of “One Nation, One Constitution” but also heralded a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir, Muzrai, Fisheries, Ports and Inland Transport Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary has said.
Inaugurating an awareness programme organised by the BJP under the National Integration Campaign here on Thursday, Mr. Poojary said that even after 70 years of Independence, Article 370 had become a hurdle to say that all Indians are equal. However, a courageous move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has helped realise this dream of Indians. This will herald a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir and the people there will get all other benefits, including reservations in all sectors. It will pave the way for a prosperous and self-reliant State, he added. “Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh can be beacons of peace, development,” he added.
Terming Article 370 as a product of a mistake as well as sin committed by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he said that there was two administrations, two Constitutions and two laws in Jammu and Kashmir. Syama Prasad Mookherjee had opposed this decision then and had launched a movement demanding scrapping Article 370. He fought against injustice meted out to Kashmiris. Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah have given a befitting tribute to Syama Prasad Mookherjee.
The national agenda of the BJP was to construct Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and scrap special status to Jammu and Kashmir. On the same lines, several new reforms will be brought into force. Thereby, healthy developments will take place in the country in the near future. Everyone has to take a pledge stating that nation comes first and work in this direction, he said.
BJP State vice-president M. Nagaraj, MLAs Arvind Bellad, Amrut Desai, MLC S.V. Sankanur and others were present.
