Today, under the daring leadership of PM Modi, the Union government has scrapped Article 370. This was not at all an easy task, but because of the thorough planning laid by the Modi government, the impossible has become possible.
Soon after the Home Ministry sent an additional troop of 10,000 and 25,000 back to back to Jammu and Kashmir, Indians started to claim that “Operation Kashmir” has begun. All were expecting that massive announcements would be made by August 15th. And on this Sunday, the speculation grew stronger as Internet services were withheld, Section 144 imposed and opposition leaders like Omar Abdulla and Mehabooba Mufti were kept at house arrest.
On 5th August, 2019 at 11: 15 to be exact, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the most anticipated statement by patriots. He said “I am presenting the resolution to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir except the first clause 370 (1)”.
Along with that, he also proposed the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories- Jammu and Kashmir division and Ladakh. This means that the Union territory of Ladakh will have no legislature just like Chandigarh, but the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.
With this, the Modi government gave meaning to the sacrifice of Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee. Yes, ever since the discrimination was done to India by giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Mukherjee strongly opposed it.
Dr Mukherjee, who was the founder of Bharatiya Jan Sangh (which later became Bharatiya Janata Party), had stated 70 years back that Article 370 will be a threat to the nation. That’s why he opposed this in the parliament and even outside it.
As he had said, Jammu and Kashmir went on to become the hub of terrorism and even today, most of the anti-national activities traces back to Kashmir. This is because, the Abdullas and the Muftis who ruled Jammu and Kashmir, misused Article 370.
The cost of opposing Article 370 was death as Dr Mukherjee, in the year 1953, died in the custody of Abdulla led government of Jammu and Kashmir. Interestingly, Nehru was India’s Prime Minister and thus justice was denied.
But today, by scrapping the Article 370, PM Modi led union government has finally ensured justice to the great personality.
Not just Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee, but several other visionary leaders and freedom fighters had opposed Article 370. One among them was Dr B.R. Ambedkar who had announced that he would never, as Law Minister, consent to Article 370.
Yes, Dr Ambedkar had said “You wish India should protect your borders, she should build roads in your area, she should supply you foodgrains, and Kashmir should get equal status as India. But the Government of India should have only limited powers and Indian people should have no rights in Kashmir. To give consent to this proposal, would be a treacherous thing against the interests of India and I, as the Law Minister of India, will never do it“.
5th August, 2019 will be written in Indian history as a dawn of new beginning.
Hansika Raj
