The government of India on Wednesday claimed that the constitutional change made in August 2019 has brought about “socio-economic development in both Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh”.
“After the constitutional changes and reorganization of the erstwhile State of Jammu-Kashmir, the Union territories of Jammu- Kashmir and Ladakh have been fully integrated into the mainstream of the nation,” Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said in a reply.
“As a result, all the rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and benefits of all the Central Laws that were being enjoyed by other citizens of the country are now available to the people of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh,” he said while responding to a question by Biju Janata Dal leader and Rajya Sabha member Dr. Sasmit Patra who sought to know whether Government has made any assessment of the impact of abrogation of Article 370 on Jammu and Kashmir.
On August 5 2019, the government effectively annulled Article 370 which gave special status to J&K within the constitution of India for 70 long years, and in doing so, the administration imposed severe security and communication clampdown which even saw the snapping of landline telephones while thousands of people were arrested or detained.
“The change has brought about socio-economic development in both the new UTs i.e. UT of Jammu-Kashmir and the UT of Ladakh.
Empowerment of people, removal of unjust Laws, bringing in equity and
fairness to those discriminated since ages who are now getting their due along with comprehensive development are few of the important changes that are ushering both the new Union Territories towards the path of peace and progress,” he said, adding,” With the conduct of elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions such as Panches and Sarpanches, Block Development Councils and District Development Councils, the 3-tier system of grassroot level democracy has now been established in Jammu and Kashmir.”
