SRINAGAR: Senior BJP leader Devender Singh Rana on Sunday applauded the repeal of Article 35A of the Constitution of India, stating that it liberated women in Jammu and Kashmir from over seven decades of discrimination and deprivation.
Speaking at a conference of social media volunteers in Modi Nagar, Baghpat Parliamentary Constituency, as part of the BJP’s Jan Abhiyaan to commemorate nine years of the Narendra Modi Government, Rana highlighted the significant political developments of 5th August 2019. He emphasised how these developments exposed the hypocrisy of those claiming to champion women’s empowerment while denying equal rights to the daughters of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rana emphasised that, in addition to integrating Jammu and Kashmir emotionally and psychologically with the rest of the country, the abrogation of special status ended the era of deprivation for marginalised sections such as Valmikis, PaK refugees, Gorkhas, Gujjar Bakarwals, West PAK refugees, and other vulnerable groups.
Rana stated that the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A demonstrated the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) mission of One India and Nation First. He criticised the Congress, which had ruled the country and Jammu and Kashmir for a significant period since independence, for its callous insensitivity towards the people, particularly women.
In his address, the BJP leader highlighted numerous achievements of the Modi Government over the past nine years, stating that these accomplishments have inspired people both within and outside the country. He emphasised that India, under Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, is seen as an emerging superpower capable of resolving crises and conflicts among nations. Rana stressed that the development and nation-building agenda remains a top priority for the government.
Regarding Jammu and Kashmir, Rana highlighted the region’s recognition as one of the best-performing Union Territories in implementing the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, providing health insurance coverage to 97 percent of the population.
He also mentioned the industrial revolution taking place in Jammu and Kashmir, with private investment proposals worth £66,000 crore flooding in and a significant increase in operational industrial units. The region has also seen a record-breaking influx of 1.88 crore tourists, the highest since independence.
Rana further emphasised the empowerment of tribal communities through the Forest Rights Act, granting them rights over water, forests, and land. He assured that concerns of all segments of society, including Kashmiri Pandits, West Pakistan Refugees, SCs, and STs, are being addressed as a priority.
Rana stated that Prime Minister Modi has transformed India, surpassing countries like England to become the world’s fifth-largest economy. He noted the Reserve Bank of India’s report that the International Monetary Fund predicts India will attain the fourth position by 2025 and the third position by 2027.
Rana also highlighted India’s transformation into a digital economy, primarily led by the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI). He mentioned India’s leading position in digital transactions, with even roadside vendors accepting digital payments. Furthermore, he highlighted achievements under the Swachh Bharat mission, such as the declaration of over 3 lakh villages as open defecation-free and the establishment of waste management facilities in over 2.5 lakh villages.
Rana concluded by stating that these accomplishments represent only a few of the significant achievements of the Modi government over the past nine years.
