The government’s decision to nullify Article 370, which ended special status for Jammu & Kashmir, would bring to the state benefits of central legislations aimed at social welfare and development, apart from attracting investment that would generate jobs and help wean the youth from militancy, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.
Delivering the R N Kao Memorial lecture, organised by the Cabinet Secretariat or Research & Analysis Wing, Shah justified the need for abrogation of Article 370, saying it was coming in the way of development of the state and also allowed corruption to thrive, besides sucking the state into a vortex of terror and militancy. In a break from tradition, the event was not open to the media.
He is learned to have reiterated that the decisions to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the state of J&K into two Union territories of J&K and Ladakh, had been taken after due legal vetting, which would withstand any future scrutiny by the courts.
He said ending special status for J&K would promote investment in the state as industrial houses can now buy land. This in turn would generate jobs locally. Also, many central Acts like Right to Education would be applicable to J&K, he said.
Shah said Article 370 was used to incite Kashmiri youths against India and instil in them a feeling of alienation. He is also said to have justified making J&K a UT, saying it was warranted in view of the current security situation. Shah had earlier assured Parliament that full statehood would be restored to J&K once normalcy returns.
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