Seven Years After Article 370 Change Modi Says Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Entered New Era of Progress

Seven years after the removal of Articles 370 and 35A, a post from the X account of Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 5 August 2019 marked a decisive new chapter in the journey of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The post described the constitutional change as a historic moment, saying that Articles 370 and 35A “became history” on this day and opened the way for the full application of the Constitution of India in the region.

Article 370 was a special provision in the Indian Constitution that gave Jammu and Kashmir a special status. Because of this provision, many laws and constitutional provisions that applied to the rest of India did not automatically apply to Jammu and Kashmir. Article 35A was linked to Article 370 and allowed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to define “permanent residents” and give them special rights related to land, jobs, scholarships and other benefits.

On 5 August 2019, the Government of India made Article 370 largely inoperative and ended the effect of Article 35A. The former state of Jammu and Kashmir was later reorganised into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The post referred to this decision as a turning point that changed the constitutional and administrative position of both regions.

According to the post, the lives of people in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed wide-ranging transformation since the change. It said infrastructure has expanded and opportunities have grown in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and sports. The post also stated that women and marginalised communities, who were earlier denied basic constitutional rights for decades, have been empowered because the Constitution of India now applies fully to them.

The post also said that 5th August carries even greater significance this year because the nation is commemorating the 125th birth anniversary year of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. It highlighted Dr. Mookerjee’s lifelong commitment to national unity and said that his vision, expressed decades ago, found historic fulfilment on 5 August 2019.

The post concluded by reaffirming commitment to the progress of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It said the aim is to ensure that every citizen gets the opportunity to dream big, achieve their goals and contribute to the making of a developed India, also called Viksit Bharat.