INDIA’S ARTICLE 370 MOVE HAS SUPPORT OF THE WORLD: SHAH
Home minister says former PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s move to refer the Kashmir issue to the UN in 1948 a ‘Himalayan blunder’
NEWDELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that world leaders have supported the Centre’s move to abrogate the Constitution’s Article 370 and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the country’s diplomatic victory during his visit to the US.
Attending a function in New Delhi, Shah referred to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s move to refer the Kashmir issue to the United Nations in 1948 and called it a “Himalayan blunder”. “In 1948, India went to the United Nations. That was a Himalayan blunder. It is more than a Himalayan blunder,” he said at a Samkalp Former Civil Servants Forum (SFCSF) event. Shah insisted that there were no restrictions in place in the Kashmir Valley and it was important to refute rumours about Article 370. “Where are the restrictions? It is only in your mind. There are no restrictions.”
NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that world leaders have supported the Centre’s move to nullify the Constitution’s Article 370 and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the country’s diplomatic victory during his visit to the US.
He made the comments at a function in New Delhi while referring to the gathering of world leaders at the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Centre last month revoked provisions of Article 370 that gave Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) a measure of autonomy. It also split the state into two Union Territories — J&K and Ladakh.
Shah referred to former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s move to refer the Kashmir issue to the United Nations in 1948 and called it a “Himalayan blunder”.
“In 1948, India went to the United Nations. That was a Himalayan blunder. It is more than a Himalayan blunder,” he said at a Samkalp Former Civil Servants Forum (SFCSF) event. SFCSF is associated with ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
Shah said that the Indian Army arrived in Kashmir on October 27, 1947, and defeated Pakistani attackers. “It was marching towards PoK [Pakistan Occupied Kashmir] and was on the verge of victory. But suddenly the then government announced a ceasefire. What was the need for announcing the ceasefire when we were about to win the war? Had the ceasefire not been declared, PoK would have been a part of India now.”
Shah said facts about Kashmir remained hidden from the people because “the responsibility of writing history was in the hands of the same people who committed the blunder”. “It is time that correct history is written and presented before the people.”
Shah insisted that there were no restrictions in place in the Kashmir Valley and it was important to refute rumours about Article 370. “Where are the restrictions? It is only in your mind. There are no restrictions. Only misinformation about restrictions is being spread,” he said. “The decision on Article 370 will strengthen the unity and integrity of India.”
He added that many rumours were being floated about Article 370 and Kashmir. “It is important to clarify them. We know that since 1947, Kashmir has been a matter of discussion and controversy but distorted history was presented,” he said.
Shah said that curfew has been lifted everywhere in the Valley. He added that restrictions on the gatherings of more than five people have been imposed in areas under the jurisdiction of just eight out of 196 police stations.
Shah said that 10,000 new landline phone connections have been sanctioned in Jammu and Kashmir and 6,000 public call offices have come up over the last two months.
The home minister said 41,800 people have lost their lives in the decades-old militancy in J&K. But no one has raised the issue of human rights violation on soldiers killed there, their widows or children, he added.
“But people are trying to create a hue and cry over the lack of mobile connections for a few days,” he said.
The Centre imposed a lockdown in Kashmir and blocked communications to prevent protests against the effective abrogation of Article 370. Landline and mobile phones in some parts have since been restored.
Shah attacked human rights activists and questioned their silence over the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s. “Culture of Sufi saints in Kashmir was destroyed… where were these champions of human rights then? Where were they when Kashmiri Pandits were driven out? Kashmir has suffered because of Article 370,” Shah said.