Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Thursday, January 2, 2025, that Article 370 played a pivotal role in fostering separatist sentiments among the youth in Kashmir by perpetuating the notion that the region's relationship with India was temporary. Speaking at a book launch event, Shah emphasized the link between Article 370 and the rise of terrorism in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Article 370 sowed the seeds of separatism among the youth in Kashmir,” Shah remarked. He highlighted that terrorism has not taken root in other Muslim-majority areas of India despite similar cultural and religious demographics.
Article 370 and the Spread of Terrorism
Addressing arguments about Kashmir's border with Pakistan being a factor in its unrest, Shah countered, “Other states like Gujarat and Rajasthan also share borders with Pakistan, yet terrorism did not reach there.” He attributed the growth of militancy in Kashmir to the misconception fostered by Article 370 that the region’s integration with India was not permanent.
Shah lamented the decades of violence that followed, noting that separatism ultimately escalated into terrorism. “It is unfortunate that 40,000 people lost their lives. Development was sidelined while the region suffered from a naked dance of terrorism,” he said.
Development Stalled by Violence
The Home Minister also underscored the adverse impact of prolonged unrest on the region’s progress, suggesting that the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 was a necessary step to integrate Jammu and Kashmir fully with India and to pave the way for peace and development.
Shah's remarks underscore the government’s stance that removing Article 370 was not only a constitutional imperative but also a measure aimed at addressing terrorism and fostering long-term stability in the region.
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