Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation comes two days after the NDA government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special rights and divided it into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Modi had called it a "momentous occasion in our Parliamentary democracy, where landmark bills pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir have been passed with overwhelming support". Taking to Twitter, Modi said he "salute(s) my sisters and brothers of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for their courage and resilience. For years, vested interest groups who believed in emotional blackmail never cared for people’s empowerment. Jammu and Kashmir is now free from their shackles. A new dawn, better tomorrow awaits!"
PM Modi had also advised his ministerial colleagues that there is no room for triumphalism and reminded them that it’s now that the heavy-lifting begins, sources told The Indian Express. The Prime Minister reminded his ministerial colleagues that being the ruling party, BJP leaders should be aware of the “repercussions” of such a decision and its effect on a section of people.
The last time he addressed the nation was on March 27 during the Lok Sabha polls when he announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile (A-Sat) capability by shooting down a live satellite. Modi also hosts Mann ki Baat show on All India Radio on the last Sunday of every month.
Even as BJP celebrated the scrapping of Article 370, an unprecedented lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir has reached its fourth day today. Communication services continue to be blocked— with mobile internet suspended, and cellular network, landline and broadband connectivity down.
Reacting to the PM's address to the nation, CPI general secretary D Raja said, "It is all rhetoric and nothing more. What stopped him from giving a statement in Parliament? This shows that as rulers this government only wants to address its subjects."
"In fact what he said was full of excuses as if he isn't himself convinced. Also, people of Jammu and Kashmir have excelled in sports and even civil services exams. How will removing 370 help? He said UT status is temporary, o ask him, what is temporary? It was all rhetoric and excuses for his Government's move," Raja said.
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Union Law Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hailed the prime minister, saying, "Historic address by PM Narendra Modi. Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh is soon going to witness unprecedented growth and development creating better opportunities for people of the regions." He used the hashtag "KashmirWithModi" with his tweet.
Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said the accession of J&K with India was voluntary and the political leadership endorsed the decision.
"What the Prime Minister has said is a repetition of what Home Minister Amit Shah has said. That can hardly be reassuring for the people of Jammu and Kashmir...It lacks any conviction and logic which would be reassuring the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir about the respect of their fundamental rights," he told PTI.
Sharma said India, being the largest democracy in the world, should have had self-confidence by not denying the people their fundamental rights and liberties in J-K. Sharma also said that the bifurcation of the state and its downgrading is without any precedent in the history of India. He said there is a clampdown in the entire region and it should be lifted.
"The people of J&K and Ladakh have always been betrayed and deprived of development in the name of Article 370 by those who ruled the state for the past seven decades. But now by the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Modi has put an end to this injustice," said Union Minister Amit Shah.
All educational institutions including government and private schools shall re-open with effect from 9th of August 2019, to function as usual, as per the directive by Samba district administration. Follow LIVE updates on Kashmir here
Amid tensions with Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday addressed the nation defending his government’s decision to scrap the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. Here's 10 quotes from PM Modi’s speech
Concluding his address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said we should welcome 'Naya Jammu and Kashmir and Naya Ladakh in Naya Bharat."
The government will assure that there is no problem to citizens in J&K during Eid celebrations. The government will also help those outside J&K who want to go home for Eid: PM Modi
"Kashmir is the crown of our country — that is all we've all grown up listening to. Countless of Kashmiri, Ladakhi martyrs have laid down their lives by making the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect their motherland from the enemy," says Prime Minister in his address.
PM Modi talks about the collective heritage of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. "When the local crafts and products from this land will be made available to the entire nation, it will not just generate revenue but also create opportunities for the local businesses. This will bring people into the mainstream," says Modi.
PM Modi: "After becoming a union territory, the development of Ladakh and its people is Indian govt's responsibility. Central government will extend benefits of development to Ladakh. It has the potential for spiritual, eco, adventure tourism "
Years of dynastic politics in Jammu and Kashmir discouraged leadership opportunities to the youth.
PM Modi: "There will be IITs and IIMs in Jammu &Kashmir. Ease of living will improve in J&K. Together we will free Kashmir from terrorism. People of J&K will get to choose their own representatives."
PM Modi on Jammu and Kashmir and the revocation of Article 370: "J&K has the potential to be world's best tourist destination. There was a time when most Bollywood films were shot in Kashmir."
"Impact of good governance and development is now visible in J&K under central administration. All vacant posts in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be filled, creating employment opportunities," says PM Modi while addressing the nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "There was never any discussion as to how Article 370 was adversely affecting the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. And it is surprising, no one was able to really tell how did the article benefit the people."
"The rural development, which has been halted in the valley for last two-three decades will be back on track. We'll ensure that block development projects are run in an efficient way," says PM Modi.
"Ease of living will improve in J&K. People of J&K will choose their own representatives. J&K will have a CM, ministers and MLAs. J&K administration will implement welfare societies. If things improve, J&K doesn't have to be UT always. There will be Assembly elections in J&K ," Modi says.
"In different states of the country sanitation workers come under the Sanitation Worker Act, but workers from J&K were deprived of it. In many states strong laws are their to stop atrocities against Dalits, but this was not the case in J&K," Modi says while addressing the nation.
"State govt employees including police will soon get benefits on par with employees of other Union Territories," he said.
PM Modi on Kashmir: "Since Governor's rule, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has come under central governance. That is why we could see good governance and development on ground, where it used to be on paper. "
PM Modi's address to nation: "People in Kashmir used to be left behind in terms of facilities that were enjoyed by the people elsewhere in India. Right to Education, inheritance of property to daughters, the Minimum Wages Act to labourers are all the provision which were not applicable before the scrapping of Article 370," says PM Modi.
"J&K was deprived of benefits rest of India had. Women in J&K did not have the same rights as others. Laws being made couldn't be applied in J&K. J&K labourers did not benefit from the laws," he said.
"J&K labourers did not benefit from the laws. Laws for SC/ST did not apply there. J&K women did not have the same rights as others. All J&K workers will now get employments benefits."
"Over 1.5 crore people of J&K were being denied benefits of legislations meant for the entire country," says Modi while addressing the nation.
PM Modi's address to nation: "The dream of Sardar Patel, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Atalji and of crores of patriots has been fulfilled. "
PM Modi's address to nation: "I congratulate people of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and the whole nation. When some things have been there forever we presume they will never change or go away. Article 370 was something similar."
Addressing the nation, PM Modi hailed the decision to revoke provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. "We took a historic decision as one country."
"We lived under the impression that nothing will change. We harboured similar thoughts about Article 370," says PM Modi in his address to the nation.
Prime Minister will address the nation in a short while from now.
PM Modi's address to nation comes ahead of his customary address to the nation on Independence Day from the ramparts of Red Fort.
The last time PM Modi addressed the nation was on March 27 during the Lok Sabha polls when he announced the success of Mission Shakti, India’s test of an anti-satellite weapon from the Odisha’s APJ Abdul Kalam Island (earlier, known as Wheeler Island) launch complex.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation Thursday, two days after the government scrapped special status to Jammu and Kashmir by modifying Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories. Here's all you need to know
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 pm on Thursday. Follow our LIVE blog to track all real-time updates.