Amit Shah says Art 370 and 35A posed hurdles in integrating Kashmir with India; congratulates Modi for the “bold” step

"I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for rooting out Article 370 and Article 35A in the very first session of Parliament after being re-elected with a massive mandate, "Shah said addressing a seminar on awareness on Article 370 here today.

"I have come here to assure the people of Maharashtra that very soon Jammu and Kashmir will be freed from bloodshed and disharmony and embrace development and progress," he asserted.

Referring to Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who questioned in Parliament whether abrogation of the two laws would integrate J&K with India, the Home Minister said, "Time and again, people across India had to iterate that Kashmir is an integral part of India..Did we ever need to mention this about any other state? This was because of the existence of Article 370 and Article 35A."

"Every Indian was aware, in reality, Kashmir could never be a part of India until Article 370 and Article 35A remained functional,” he averred.

Slamming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's for alleging that BJP is using the issue for its political ends, the Home Minister said his party had sacrificed and struggled for the integration of J&K since its Jan Sangh days, and added that Congress maintained the autonomy of J&K for its own political objectives.

"We all know that PoK exists because the first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru called a ceasefire, just when the Indian Army was on the verge of reclaiming the part of Kashmir occupied by the Kabalis sent by Pakistan," he stated.

Article 370 fostered separatism in Kashmir and facilitated Pakistan orchestrated terrorism in the erstwhile state and it had allowed breed terrorism at ease.

Lambasting Rahul Gandhi, who had questioned Centre's decision of abolishing J&K special status, Shah said, "At least 40,000 people have died from 1989 to 2010...the Sufis, the Sikhs, the Hindus were driven out of Kashmir...and you ask us what difference abolition of Article 370 makes?"

"Congress leaders used fear psychosis to support the party's stance on Article 370, saying the abrogation would trigger a bloodbath in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

"Not a single bullet has been shot, not a single incident of violence has taken place since August 5," he added.

Claiming that normalcy has been restored in major parts of the Union Territory, Shah asserted the abolishing of Article 370 will now ensure equitable society.

"Laws such as Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act that protect the marginalized section across the country will now be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, the SC/ST community will get reservation in government jobs,” he said.