SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address in the Lok Sabha, strongly criticised Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, asserting that it had become a “wall in the unity” of the nation. Referring to its abrogation in 2019, Modi said, “We buried it in the ground because unity of the country was our priority, which is the spirit of our Constitution.”
The Prime Minister was replying to a two-day debate on the ‘Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India.’ He accused the Congress of undermining constitutional principles by bypassing Parliament while introducing Article 35-A, which granted special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir residents. He described the move as an act of betrayal towards the Parliament, which he called the “first son of the Indian Constitution.”
Modi also highlighted that the Congress-led introduction of Article 35-A kept Parliament in the dark. “They strangled the Parliament and kept their actions hidden from the people of the country,” he said. According to the Prime Minister, the existence of Article 35-A had severely hampered Jammu and Kashmir’s integration into India. “If 35-A was not there, the situation would not have been as it is today,” he emphasised.
He reiterated that his government’s decision to abrogate Articles 370 and 35-A on August 5, 2019, was aimed at strengthening the unity of India. These provisions had granted Jammu and Kashmir special constitutional status and privileges. The abrogation was accompanied by the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
PM Modi asserted that his government has consistently prioritised the unity and integrity of India, adding that their policies over the past decade have aimed at bringing the nation closer together. He also reaffirmed his commitment to implementing BR Ambedkar’s Constitution fully, noting that this vision was realised in Jammu and Kashmir only after the special provisions were removed.
The Prime Minister’s remarks underline his government’s long-standing position that the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A was a decisive step in fostering national unity and fulfilling constitutional principles.
