On the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A), Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the event as a “watershed moment” in India’s history. He hailed the move as the beginning of a new era of progress and prosperity for Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
In a post on X, PM Modi stated, “Today, we mark five years since the Indian Parliament decided to abrogate Articles 370 and 35(A). This was a transformative step towards progress and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.” He emphasized that this change has brought security, dignity, and opportunities for women, youth, marginalized, tribal, and backward communities who were previously deprived of development benefits.
Modi assured the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh that the BJP-led central government remains committed to their welfare. “Our government has worked hard to keep corruption at bay, which plagued J-K for decades. We will continue to address their needs and fulfill their aspirations,” he added.
In contrast, Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the central government’s handling of the abrogation. In a post on X, he claimed that the BJP’s actions neither respect “Kashmiriyat” nor uphold “Jamhuriyat” (democracy). He argued that instead of fostering integration and economic development, the region has experienced significant unrest.
Kharge highlighted that since 2019, there have been 683 fatal terror attacks, resulting in the deaths of 258 security personnel and 170 civilians. He noted that targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits have increased, and many government positions remain unfilled.
He further criticized the slow progress of the New Industrial Policy and the PM’s Development Package, citing a decline in Jammu and Kashmir’s net state domestic product (NSDP) growth rate from 13.28% to 8.73% post-2019.
In August 2019, the Indian government revoked Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and reorganised the region into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
