New Delhi, Jan 2 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday addressed the lasting impact of Article 370 on Jammu and Kashmir, stating that it played a significant role in fostering separatism and terrorism in the region.
Speaking at the release of the book ‘Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages’, Shah emphasized that the Narendra Modi-led government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A in August 2019 helped dismantle the terrorist ecosystem in Kashmir.
Shah claimed that the abrogation ended the false notion that Kashmir’s integration with India was temporary. He further argued that Article 370 created a mindset of separatism among the youth in Kashmir, leading to the rise of terrorism.
“Article 370 sowed the seeds of separatism in the minds of the youth. There are Muslim populations in other parts of the country, but why isn’t terrorism prevalent in those regions?” Shah asked. He also pointed out that regions like Gujarat and Rajasthan, which are close to the Pakistan border, did not experience the same level of violence, challenging the narrative that proximity to Pakistan was the main cause of terrorism in Kashmir.
According to the Home Minister, the situation in Kashmir drastically improved post-abrogation, with a 70% reduction in terrorism-related incidents. He pointed to the absence of stone-pelting incidents in the region in 2024 as a clear indication of the improvement. Shah also underscored the economic and developmental benefits that were delayed for decades due to the long-standing conflict, adding that the Modi government’s actions were aimed at restoring peace and fostering growth in the region.
Shah’s remarks underline the government’s position that the abrogation of Article 370 was crucial in bringing stability to Kashmir, once plagued by violence and separatism.
