Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Chandigarh on Friday that by withdrawing the special status granted to Kashmir, the BJP government did something which successive Congress governments had failed to do in 70 years.
At a public meeting in Jind of Haryana, Mr. Shah said Article 370 was a hurdle in the way of Sardar Patel’s dream of Akhand Bharat [one India]. “...what the Congress governments could not do in 70 years because of vote-bank politics, Modi ji did it in 75 days [of his second term as Prime Minister] ... abrogation of Article 370 and 35A will prove to be a milestone for the integrity of India,” he said.
Mr. Shah said that with the dilution of Articles 370 and 35A, all obstacles in the path of holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh had been removed. “Such a courageous step can be taken only by those who think in terms of national interest,” he said.
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He said the revoking of these sections was a true tribute to the brave soldiers of Haryana who attained “martyrdom” in Kashmir. “Kashmir will now be on the path of development as there are two Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The new Chief of Defence Staff post would ensure greater synergy among defence forces, he added.
Setting the tone for the campaign for the Assembly election in Haryana later this year, Mr. Shah appealed to the people to vote the BJP back to power as the party had provided a corruption-free and transparent government under Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
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Mr. Shah said initiatives taken by the Khattar government, be it online transfer of teachers, transparency in recruitment or the successful implementation of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme, were being praised by all. The BJP governments at the Centre and in Haryana were working to ensure corruption-free governance and development.