Srinagar, July 10 : Union Minister Jitendra Singh urged the Congress to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling their promise of removing Article 370, a temporary provision of the Constitution, during a press conference on Monday. Singh also highlighted that the Modi government had introduced grassroots democracy to Jammu and Kashmir for the first time.
Singh stated that although Congress leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, had initially claimed that Article 370 would naturally erode over time, the provision remained intact due to political interests. Singh commended PM Modi for taking action that previous Congress governments should have done much earlier, and suggested that the Congress should acknowledge Modi’s role in removing the temporary provision.
During the event, Singh inaugurated a seven-day exhibition showcasing the achievements of the Modi government over the past nine years. Regarding the upcoming hearing on Article 370 petitions in the Supreme Court, Singh emphasized that the provision was initially written as a temporary provision in the Constitution.
Responding to claims of a lack of democracy in the Union Territory by opposition parties, Singh credited PM Modi for introducing grassroots democracy to Jammu and Kashmir, citing the presence of panchayats, sarpanches, Block Development Councils (BDCs), and District Development Councils (DDCs).
Regarding the recent incidents of political violence in West Bengal, Singh condemned them, stating that such acts could not be tolerated in a democratic country. He expressed concern over the failure of law and order and governance, describing it as an unleashing of state terrorism. Singh assured that appropriate action would be taken by the relevant authorities.
Regarding the exhibition, organized to mark nine years of Narendra Modi’s tenure as Prime Minister, Singh highlighted India’s increased global standing under Modi’s leadership. He praised Modi as a prominent world leader and emphasized India’s progress in various sectors. Singh also mentioned the upcoming launch of Chandrayaan, India’s lunar mission, and how the government’s support for public-private partnership in the space sector has allowed India to stand alongside renowned space agencies like NASA.
