Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: Articles 370 and 35A gave Jammu & Kashmir nothing but separatism-terrorism and rampant corruption in the system. Both these Articles were being used by Pakistan as a weapon to provoke the feelings of some people against the country. After the abrogation of these Articles, the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh will not only improve their present, but also their future will be secure.
This was stated by Kavinder Gupta, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader while interacting with party workers during his visit to Kashmir Valley today.
Kavinder regretted that in the past 70 years, two families of Kashmir brazenly looted J&K and people were deprived of the right of equitable growth and development.
“Three generations of J&K were denied equal opportunities of growth by these families, who have exploited the emotions of people,” Gupta said, asserting that the BJP-led Government at the Centre had fulfilled the commitment of complete integration of J&K with the rest of the country.
“Jammu and Kashmir has entered in Indian mainstream and became a part of our great nation’s collective growth and no one can stop peace, prosperity and harmony to grow in the Valley,” Gupta added.
The senior BJP leader said that the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A has now given rights to everybody, especially women, refugees, Safai Karamcharis and every other section of the society who were denied even basic rights for seven decades.
“The rights of women who marry outside Jammu and Kashmir are now protected. Refugees from West Pakistan, displaced people and Safai Karamcharis have finally found long delayed justice. They now possess democratic, employment and property rights,” Gupta added.
The former Deputy Chief Minister asserted that the BJP Government in the Centre has formulated a comprehensive plan for the growth of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, adding that the Union Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed to accelerate developmental activities in this region.
Kavinder asked the party workers to make every possible effort to extend benefits of Central sponsored schemes so that the people of Kashmir Valley would get their due share.