Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 8 August, defended his government's decision to effectively revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, leaders from across the political spectrum reacted to the PM’s remarks.
While the BJP hailed Modi's "inspiring" address to the nation, the Opposition Congress said it was "hardly reassuring" for the people and lacked conviction.
In his televised address to the nation, PM Modi said the provision (Article 370) has not given anything to the erstwhile state of J&K except separatism, corruption and family rule, and that Pakistan has used it as a tool to spread terrorism.
The PM termed the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370 “historic” and said a new era has begun in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Here is how political leaders reacted to the PM’s statement on Thursday.
Stating that the people of J&K and Ladakh have always been betrayed and deprived of development in the name of Article 370, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “by the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put an end to this injustice”.
Shah further said that a peaceful and prosperous J&K and Ladakh is what every Indian wants. “PM Narendra Modi has urged the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, especially youth, to be a part of this historic journey and walk together for a greater cause,” he wrote in a tweet.
Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, who delivered a fierce speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, 6 August, also took to Twitter, urging people to join the PM's address to the nation.
Priti Gandhi, National incharge of Social Media at BJP Mahila Morcha, thanked PM Modi for “abolishing” Article 370, which, she said “only pretended to protect the rights of common Kashmiris”.
‘Modi's Speech on J&K Lacked Conviction’
Reacting to the PM's address, CPI general secretary D Raja reportedly said:
“It is all rhetoric and nothing more. What stopped him from giving a statement in Parliament? This shows that as rulers, this government only wants to address its subjects.”
"In fact what he said was full of excuses as if he isn't himself convinced. Also, people of Jammu and Kashmir have excelled in sports and even civil services exams. How will removing (Article) 370 help? He said UT status is temporary, so ask him, what is temporary? It was all rhetoric and excuses for his Government's move," PTI quoted Raja as saying.
Senior Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma, on his part, said the accession of Jammu and Kashmir with India was voluntary and that the political leadership endorsed the decision.
“What the Prime Minister has said is a repetition of what Home Minister Amit Shah has already said. That can hardly be reassuring for the people of Jammu and Kashmir...It lacks conviction and logic which would be reassuring the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir about the respect of their fundamental rights.”Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma, as told to PTI
Sharma further said that India, being the largest democracy in the world, should have had self-confidence by not denying the people their fundamental rights and liberties in erstwhile state of J&K.
His party colleague Abhishek Singhvi, however, said the nation as a whole should support the prime minister and hoped that confidence and faith would be imparted to all the people in J&K and Ladakh.
“Once the Parliament has passed what it has, the country must remain united behind it; despite differing views.." Singhvi tweeted.
Senior journalist Aarti Tikoo, too, thanked the PM for “strengthening Indian democracy”.
Tikoo said she felt “overwhelmed" when the “PM welcomed disagreement” from citizens over the government’s decision on the reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir.
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