The Hon’ble Supreme Court, in its historic judgement, unanimously upheld the 2019 revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court held that Article 370 was a temporary provision and a feature of asymmetric federalism and not sovereignty. This was, indeed, a victory for India and Indians since the abrogation of Article 370 and the formation of two Union Territories of J & K and Ladhak, by a determined and patriotic Modi Government, has been the most momentous achievement of a united India since Independence.
The Home Minister had made a statement, in 2019, inParliament that 41500 people were killed in J & K since 1989. Terrorism had devastated the region leading to untold misery. Invisible enemies fighting unholy proxy wars, had threatened our democracy, to no end.
After the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, on the great day of August 5, 2019, PM Modi gave full priority on development for the people, and the two newly created Union Territories and the people have witnessed a spate of unhindered development as never before. This is evident by the initiatives of the government accelerating development, building infrastructure, reinforcing governance, generating employment, broadening social inclusion and promoting growth.
Long years of unrest had adversely affected the State’s democratic institutions, particularly those at the grass roots level. The absence of elected local bodies not only deprived the people of the power to take their own decisions regarding development and other issues impacting their day to day lives, but also adversely impacted the flow of resources from the Central and the State Government to rural and urban local self-governing institutions. Immediately after the formation of the UT & J&K, Panchayati Raj institutions were established and made functional and Rs. 366 crore was released directly to 4483 Panchayats, which money was always diverted earlier to vested pockets. Work on the 2206 languishing projects was promptly started.
Similarly, after the new UT of J& K came into being, there was a creation of 45000 employment opportunities, vigorous road construction works, flood management and water supply projects, initiation and acceleration of several power generation and transmission projects, enabling achievement of 100 percent household electrification, process of setting up of over 330 schools and colleges and a university, improved medical infrastructure, beginning of a light rail and public transport system, welfare measures for all including housing, disposal of outcome based grievances, implementation of women and child welfare schemes, scholarships for the deserving, support to farmers, orchardists and unorganized workers, expansion of tourism facilities, sports infrastructure and border area development. These and many more, have germinated and blossomed, after the creation of the Union Territories, in greater proportions restoring full confidence of the people.
The people of J & K have the same rights, benefits and prospects as those in the rest of the country. Domicile certificate is now the basic eligibility condition for recruitment. The Indian constitution is fully applicable to J & K; consequently 170 central laws have now become applicable to J&K, guaranteeing justice and fairness to the underprivileged. The repudiation of Articles 370 and 35A has heralded a new dawn of empowerment, equity and development. The rights of women marrying outside the UT now stand fully protected and gender discrimination has ended. The special status of Article 370 and 35 A had insulated the state from the rest of India leaving it backward as money was siphoned into vested pockets and did not reach the common man. On Nov 7, 2015, the Prime Minister announced a Reconstruction Plan of Rs. 80,068 crores.
Accordingly, post 370 has witnessed a new sunrise by reinforcing governance, accelerating development, building infrastructure, generating employment, broadening social inclusion, providing humanitarian relief and promoting growth.
The Prime Minister has transformed the ‘Tasveer’ of J&K and the ‘Taqdeer’ of the people by more than fulfilling their aspirations. Innumerable developmental projects stand completed while several projects are scheduled for completion soon. To promote transparency, the Modi Government has got instituted a portal namely the J & K Infrastructure Monitoring System (JKIMS) by which the progress of work is physically monitored on real-time basis and the status of project implementation can accessed by any individual. The Modi government has rationalized reservation rules to give benefit to the marginalised sections which have remained either unrepresented or under represented. Kashmiri migrants have benefited from a series of welfare measures like employment, transit accommodation and monthly financial assistance.
Law and order has dramatically improved. Terrorism and peoples’ miseries have nearly come to an end, despite Pakistan’s frustrated efforts to activate its “deep state” again to heat up the environment, even in this state of the COVID pandemic. Abrogation of Article 370 has led to exasperation in the ranks of the terrorists; local recruitment of terrorists has dwindled. Pakistan is now encountering triple frustration – first, at the abrogation of Article 370; second, at the snub it has faced in all international fora where it has raised the Kashmir issue and, third, at the fact that all its efforts to initiate terrorist acts have only resulted in their constant decimation in every encounter.
The formation of the Union Territory of J&K has not only witnessed development but also evoked patriotism and restored confidence of the people in the Constitution of India and our robust democratic system of a united sovereign India with Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity assuring the dignity of the Indian and unity and integrity of the nation.
The pro-active measures being taken by a determined government, under PM Modi, are ushering in a new era of peace, tranquillity and development.
In the words of PM Modi, “the court has strengthened the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”…… “development, democracy and dignity have replaced and disillusionment and despondency”.
R. K. Pachnanda is a former chairman, Haryana Public Service Commission. His views are personal.