Wall of Art 370 demolished: PM

October 31, 2019 10:53

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tribute to India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Statue of Unity on the occasion of his 144th birth anniversary.

In October last year, Modi had inaugurated 'Statue of Unity' on the occasion of Patel's 143rd birth anniversary. Extracts from his speech.

"The 'Run for Unity' program is being held in different cities and villages across the country today. I thank every citizen for participating in this program. India is known for 'unity in diversity; it is our pride and our identity.

"Sardar Sahib always spoke about unity of purpose, unity of aim and unity of endeavour. Azaadi ke baad, pehli baar J&K mein BDC ke chunaav huye pichle hafte, aur 98% panch aur sarpancho ne vote daala. Yeh bhaagidaari apne aap mein ekta ka sandesh hai. Ab J&K mein ek rajneetik sthirta aayegi.

"I dedicate decision of abrogation of A 370 to Sardar Patel. The country decided to abrogate A 370, which had only given separatism and terrorism to J&K. Inspired by Sardar Patel, we are working towards emotional, economic and constitutional integration. Our decision on J&K is not to draw a line on land but to build a chain of trust. North-East is moving from separatism to attachment as decades-old problems are nearing resolution

"I am happy that from today all the govt employees of Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh will be getting the benefits under the 7th Pay Commission as granted to the employees of other Union Territories.

"Article 370 only gave separatism & terrorism to J&K. It was the only place in the country where Article 370 was present, where in last 3 decades, over 40,000 people got killed and several mothers lost their sons due to terrorism. Now this wall of Article 370 has been demolished."

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