Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said on Thursday said statehood to Jammu and Kashmir would be restored soon and asserted that Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution proved to be “good” as it strengthened development and “ended” terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There was a time when tourists were afraid of visiting Jammu and Kashmir but that has changed after the revocation of Article 370,” Athawale said at a press conference here.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370, which accorded a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The government also downgraded and divided Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
“The (PM) Narendra Modi-led government has taken a lot of important decisions and the abrogation of Article 370 was a very big step which strengthened development in J&K, ended terrorism and generated employment opportunities besides establishing peace and paving the way for unfurling the tricolour,” Athawale said.
Earlier, people were afraid of visiting J&K but the situation changed after Article 370 was revoked and more than 2.5 million tourists visited the union territory last year, he said.
“The increase in tourism means more development for the region. It was a very good decision to revoke Article 370. Now the people want us to give the status of a state to J&K. When (Home Minister) Amit Shah announced the removal of Article 370, he also announced that J&K’s statehood would be restored at an appropriate time. Jammu and Kashmir will get the status of a state soon and all of people’s problems will be resolved,” he added.
The minister lauded the highest voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir in the assembly elections held last year.
“Though the alliance of the National Conference and the Congress came to power, it hardly matters to us as we are with the people and want the region’s development,” he said.
Athawale was on a visit to review the progress of centrally-sponsored schemes meant for the development of the union territory.
He expressed satisfaction over the implementation of government schemes for the welfare of various sections.