PM Modi’s address to the Nation
Posted
On: 08 AUG 2019 9:20PM by PIB Delhi
My fellow countrymen,
As
a country and as a family, you and us, together we took a historic decision. A
system which denied due rights to our brothers and sisters of Jammu, Kashmir
and Ladakh; a system which was huge hurdle in their development has now been
eradicated.
A
dream which Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had, a dream which Babasaheb Ambedkar had,
the dream shared by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Atalji and crores of citizens, has
now been fulfilled.A new age has begun in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh.
Now
the rights and accountabilities of all the citizens of the country are similar.
I congratulate the people Jammu-Kashmir, Ladakh and each and every citizen of
the country.
Friends,
Sometimes
some things of the social life get so entangled with time that they are
considered to be permanent. A sentiment of complacency develops and it is
thought that nothing is ever going to change. A similar sentiment prevailed for
Article 370.
Because
of this there was no debate or talk about the damage done to our brothers and
sisters, our children in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Astonishingly, nobody was
able to list the benefits that Article 370 delivered to the people of
Jammu-Kashmir.
Brothers and sisters,
Article
370 and 35A has given nothing but secessionism, terrorism, nepotism and
widespread corruption on a large scale to Jammu-Kashmir. Both these articles
were used as a weapon by Pakistan to flare up the emotions of some people. Due
to this more than 42,000 people lost their lives in the last three decades. The
development in Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh could not be done on levels which the
region deserved. After the removal of this flaw in the system, the people of
Jammu-Kashmir will not only have a better present but a bright future ahead.
Friends,
Whichever
government is in power, it works for the betterment of the country by enacting
laws in the Parliament. No matter which party or coalition is in power, this
work never stops.
There
is a lot of debate both inside and outside the Parliament when laws are enacted
and made, a lot of debate and brainstorming occurs and serious arguments are
put up over its importance and effect. The laws that are enacted after
undergoing this process are beneficial for people of the nation. However, it’s
unfathomable that so many laws are enacted in the Parliament and not enacted in
a particular region of the country. Even previous governments who were hailed
after enacting just one law couldn’t claim that the same law will be
implemented in the Jammu & Kashmir region.More than 1.5 crore people of
Jammu & Kashmir were deprived of the benefits of laws that were enacted for
the benefit of the people of India. Imagine children in rest of the country
have a right to education while children in Jammu & Kashmir were deprived
of this right. The daughters of Jammu & Kashmir were deprived of the right
that our daughters had in rest of the states. In all the other states, Safai
Karamchari Act was enacted for hygiene workers but the workers of Jammu &
Kashmir were deprived of this. In other states, strict laws were enacted to
stop atrocities on Dalits but no such laws could be implemented in Jammu &
Kashmir. To protect the rights of blue-collar workforce, Minimum Wages Act was
enacted and implemented in all the other states while such a law is only found
on papers in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. In all other states, (our)
brothers and sisters from Scheduled Tribes got reservation while contesting
elections while such thing is unheard of in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
Friends,I am fully confident that, following
abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, Jammu and Kashmir would soon come out of
its negative effects.
Friends and sisters,
In
the new system, the priority of the central government would be to keep state
government employees and Jammu and Kashmir police personnel at par with the
state government employees and police personnel of other states in terms of
facilities.
In
Union Territories, the government provides many such financial facilities like
LTC, House Rend Allowance, Education Allowance for children, Health Schemes
etc., most of which are not provided to the employees of Jammu and Kashmir
government. Such facilities would soon be provided to the employees of Jammu
and Kashmir government and state police personnel following a review.
Friends,
very soon the process to fill in the vacancies of central and state government
will be initiated in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.This would provide adequate
employment opportunities to the local youth. Besides, public sector units of
the central government and big private sector companies would also be
encouraged to provide new employment opportunities.Apart from the above, Army
and para military forces would organize rallies to recruit local youths.The
government would also expand Prime Ministers Scholarship Scheme so that more
and more students can get its benefit.Jammu and Kashmir also has huge revenue
loss. The central government will ensure to minimize its impact.
Brothers
and sisters, after abrogation of Article 370, the central government has
decided to keep the state of Jammu and Kashmir under its administration after
putting in a lot of thought process in it. It is essential for you to
understand the reasons behind the decision. Ever since the state has been under
governor’s rule, the administration of Jammu and Kashmir is directly under the
central government.As a result the good effect of Good Governance and
Development have been observed on the ground.The schemes which earlier remained
only in files, have been implemented on ground.Projects pending from decades
have been speeded up.
We
have tried to bring transparency and a new work culture in the Jammu and
Kashmir administration. As a result, be it IIT, IIM, AIIMS, various irrigation
projects or power projects or the Anti-Corruption Bureau, we have been able to
fasten up the work on these projects. Besides, be it the projects of
connectivity, roads or new rail lines, modernization of the airport, everything
is being accelerated.
Friends,
The
democracy in our country is so secure, but you will be surprised to know that
there have been thousands of brother and sisters living for decades in Jammu
and Kashmir who had the right to cast their vote in Lok Sabha polls but they
were not allowed to cast vote in assembly and local body elections.
They
are the ones who had come to India following partition in 1947. Should we have
allowed the injustice to continue in the same way?
Friends,
I
would also like to clarify another important point to my brothers and sisters
of Jammu and Kashmir. Your representative (electoral) would be elected by you,
he would be one amongst you. The MLAs would be elected just as they were
elected earlier. The forthcoming cabinet would just be as it was used to be
earlier. The chief ministers would just be as they were before.
Friends,
I am fully confident that, under the new system, we would collectively be able
to keep the state of Jammu and Kashmir free from terrorism and secessionism.
When our Jammu and Kashmir- the paradise on earth, after achieving new heights
of development, attract the whole world, and when there will be greater Ease of
Living in the lives of citizens, when they would ceaselessly get their rights,
when all the tools of governance would speed up the work in favor of the
masses, then I don’t think there would be any need to continue with the system
under the union government.Yes, it would continue in Ladakh though.
Brothers
and sisters, we all want assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, that a new
government is formed, that a new chief minister is elected. I assure the people
of Jammu and Kashmir that you would get the opportunity to select your
representative in a fully honest and transparent atmosphere.Just as Panchayat
polls were held transparently last days, assembly polls would also be held in
Jammu and Kashmir.
I
would urge the Governor of the state that the setting up of Block Development
Council, which has been pending for past two-three decades, be constituted as
early as possible.
Friends,
I
have personally experienced that those who got elected in Panchayat polls in
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh four-five months back, have been working nicely.
Few months back when I visited Srinagar, I had a long meeting with them.When they
came to Delhi I interacted with them for long at my home.It is because of these
friends in Panchayats that the work has been done promptly on village level in
Jammu and Kashmir. Be it the task of electrification in every home or making
the state Open Defecation Free, the representatives in Panchayats have played a
crucial role.
I
am fully confident that following abrogation of Article 370, once these
Panchayat members get a chance to work in the new system, they would do
wonders.I firmly believe that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would conquer
secessionism and move forward with new hope.I firmly believe that the people of
Jammu and Kashmir would achieve their objectives with renewed fervor in an
ecosystem of Good Governance and Transparency.
Friends,
Family rule has not given any opportunity of leadership to any young citizen of
Jammu and Kashmir in the State.Now, my these young people will take leadership
of the development of Jammu and Kashmir and take it to a new height.
I
appeal to the youth, sisters and daughters of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to
take over command of development of their area on their own hands.
Friends,
There
is every possibility of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh becoming one of the
greatest tourist destinations.The environment required for this, the need of
change in administration, all is being taken care, but for this I need the
support of all countrymen.There was a time when Kashmir was the favorite place
for shooting bollywood films.During that time perhaps there was no film produced,
had it not been shot in Kashmir.Now, situations in Jammu and Kashmir will
normalize; not only from India, but people from all over the world will come
for shooting there.Every Film will bring with it new opportunity of employment
for the people of the Kashmir. I appeal to the Film Industry of Telugu and
Tamil Film Industry and people associated with it to definitely think over for
investment, shooting of film, theatre and setting up of other facilities in
Jammu and Kashmir.
I
appeal to those who are associated with technology, administration or private
sector to give priority in their policies and their decisions as to how to
disseminate technology in Jammu and Kashmir. When digital communication will be
strengthened there and BPO Centre, Common Service Centre will increase in
numbers there, there will be enhanced opportunity of earning livelihood, and
the life of our brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir will become easier.
Friends,
The
decision taken by the Govt. will benefit those youth of Jammu and Kashmir and
Ladakhwho aspire to progress in the field of sports. New sport academies, new
sports stadium, training in scientific environment will help them to show their
talent in the world.
Friends,
whether is it colour of kesar or flavour of kahwa or sweetness of
apple or juiciness of apricot or Kashmiri shawl or the art work or be it
organic products of Ladakh or herbal medicines of Jammu and Kashmir, all these
need to be publicised in the entire world.I give you one example, there is a
plant in Ladakh, named solo. Experts say that this plant is like
a sanjivini for people living in high altitude and for security
forces deployed in heavy icy mountains.
These
plants have great role in maintaining the immune system of body in places with
low levels of oxygen. Just think over, should not these extraordinary
items be sold in the whole world? Which Indian do not want this.And friends,I
named only one plant.There are ample plants, herbal products spread over Jammu
and Kashmir and Ladakh. Those will be identified. If they are sold, it will
benefit people and the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.Therefore, I
appeal to the people associated in Industry, Export, Food Processing Sector to
come forward to ensure that local products of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
reach whole of the world.
Friends,After becoming a Union territory,
development of the people of Ladakh becomes natural responsibility of the
Govt. of India. Central Government with the cooperation of local
representatives, Development Council of Ladakh and Kargil, will ensure benefits
of all development schemes reaches to people at a faster pace. Ladakh has the
potential to becomethebiggest center of spiritual tourism, adventure tourism
and eco-tourism. Ladakh also has the potential to become a big centre of Solar
Power generation. Now, the capability of people of Ladakh will be
utilized appropriately and new opportunities of development will come up. Now
the innovative spirit of youth of Ladakh will get a boost, they will get good
institutes for good education, people will get good hospitals, and
infrastructure will be modernized with priority.
Friends,
It
is possible, in a democracy that some people will agree to this decision and
some will oppose it. I respect their disagreement and their objections.Whatever
is being argued in this connection, Central Govt. is responding to that and it
is trying to resolve the same. It is our democratic responsibility.But I
urge them to keep the national interest as paramount and help the government in
giving a new direction to Jammu - Kashmir-Ladakh, and help the country.Moving
ahead from, who voted in Parliament, who didn’t, who supported the bill, who
didn’t, now we all to have come together to work unitedly in the interest of
Jammu - Kashmir-Ladakh.I also want to convey to our countrymen that the
concerns of Jammu – Kashmir and Laddakh are our collective concerns. These are
the concerns of 130 crore citizens. We are not indifferent to their happiness
or sorrows and sufferings.
The
riddance from Article 370 is a reality. But it is also true that whatever
odds are being caused now because of these historic steps are being fought by
them only.Our brothers and sisters of that region are patiently replying to
those handful of people, who want to vitiate the atmosphere there. We should
not forget that it is the patriots of Jammu – Kashmir who are strongly opposing
the nefarious designs of Pakistan in perpetuating terrorism and separatism.Our
brothers and sisters, who believe in Indian Constitution, deserve a better life.We
all are proud of them.Today I assure these friends of Jammu – Kashmir that the
situation will gradually return to normal and all their troubles too will
reduce.
Friends, the festival of Eid is around the
corner.I extend my greetings to all on Eid. The government is taking care that
people of Jammu – Kashmir don’t face any problem while celebrating Eid.The
government is extending all possible help to those friends who live outside
Jammu – Kashmir and want to return back to their homes on Eid.
Friends,
today on this occasion,I also express my gratitude to our friends in security
forces, who are posted for the security of the people of Jammu – Kashmir.The
way all administrative officials, state employees and Jammu – Kashmir police
personnel are handling the situation there is really commendable. Your
diligence has boosted my confidence that change can happen.
Brothers
and sisters, Jammu – Kashmir is the crown of our country. We are proud that
many brave sons and daughters of Jammu – Kashmir have sacrificed and risked
their lives for its security.Maulvi Ghulam Din of Punch district, who had
informed Indian Army about Pakistani intruders during 1965 war. He was
conferred Ashok Chakra.Col. Sonam Wangchug of Laddakh district, who forced
enemies to bite dust during Kargil war, was honoured with Mahavir Chakra. Kirti
Chakra was conferred to Rukshana Kausar of Rajauri, who had killed a big
terrorist.Martyr Aurangjeb of Punch, who was assassinated by terrorists last
year and his two brothers are now serving the country after joining the
Army.The list of such brave sons and daughters is very long. Several jawans and
officials of Jammu – Kashmir Police have also laid their lives while fighting
with terrorists. We have lost thousands of people from other parts of the
country as well.They all dreamt of a peaceful, safe and prosperous Jammu –
Kashmir. We, together, have to realize their dream.
Friends!
this decision will help in economic development of Jammu - Kashmir and
Laddakh along with the entire country. When peace and prosperity prevails in
this important part of the globe, the efforts for peace in entire world will be
naturally strengthened.
I
call upon my brothers and sisters of Jammu – Kashmir and Ladakh to come
together to show the world how much strength, courage and passion we have.
Let
us come together to build a new India, as well as a new Jammu - Kashmir and
Laddakh.
Thank you very much!
Jai Hind!!!
