Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Bharatiya Janata Party was proud that its government got the opportunity to “tear down the wall of Article 370” and reiterated that the legacy of good governance created by the BJP-led NDA government was now being taken to new heights at both the Centre and state levels.
The revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 led to complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India and ended the era of two flags and two constitutions. It took more than seven decades to end J&K’s “special status.”
No government at the Centre since 1947 dared to ‘bite the bullet’ but PM Modi led regime took a bold decision by ending the provision that had become an impediment in J&K’s development, progress and prosperity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his trusted lieutenant, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ensured that even the remnants of the Article 370 are washed off. Revocation ended the debate about Kashmir being a separate entity. It also led to separatists in Kashmir losing their addresses.
The door on legal ambiguities that had earlier allowed separatist narratives to thrive was closed once for all. The move dealt a severe blow to separatists, stripping them of political legitimacy and space, and reaffirmed the sovereignty of the Indian state in unequivocal terms.
Beyond political symbolism, the decision has been closely tied to the BJP-led NDA government’s broader legacy of governance. The Centre has repeatedly argued that Article 370 had become an impediment to development, discouraging investment, enabling corruption, and limiting the reach of progressive legislation.
Post-2019, the government has focused on infrastructure development, improved governance mechanisms, and direct delivery of welfare benefits, aiming to bring Jammu and Kashmir on par with other states and Union Territories.
August 5, 2019 marked a watershed moment.
It redefined the Centre–state relationship and underscored a governance philosophy rooted in decisiveness and uniformity. As Prime Minister Modi has reiterated, the BJP sees this step as part of a larger journey—one where the legacy of good governance created by the NDA is being elevated at both the Centre and state levels.
Ultimately, the abrogation of Article 370 stands as a testament to a government willing to take bold decisions in pursuit of national integration, long-term stability, and inclusive development reshaping not just Jammu and Kashmir’s future, but the narrative of Indian governance itself. |
