Art 370 encouraged terrorism: Jaishankar

September 24, 2019 19:17

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described as "constitutionally proper" the revocation of Article 370 to withdraw the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and said the previous provision was "exploited" by Pakistan to conduct cross-border terrorism.

Writing in the UK's 'Financial Times' newspaper on Tuesday, the minister sought to counter criticism over Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's announcement over the "anachronistic provision" last month, which he said had resulted in socio-economic injustice due to the inability to apply national laws in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The earlier provision created a cosy arrangement of local ownerships that served the state's political elite well. But it denied economic opportunities and social gains for the masses. The resulting separatist sentiments in some quarters were then exploited by neighbouring Pakistan to conduct cross-border terrorism," he wrote.

"Parliament's changes to Jammu and Kashmir's status are constitutionally proper and received support beyond the ruling Bharatiya Janata party and its allies as it was passed by a two-thirds majority. It reflects a larger consensus on the need for drastic reform," he noted.

The article went on the lay out the context of the Modi government's move and claims that although the central government spent 10 times more on the average resident of Jammu and Kashmir than in the rest of the country, that investment did not show up on the ground.

"The inability to apply national laws has led to the denial of socio-economic justice. State laws did not give women equal rights on property and prevented child protection programmes. They rejected affirmative action that was practised in the rest of India," Jaishankar said.

"Domestic violence laws, female representation in local bodies and the right to education were all kept at bay. Discrimination against refugees was open," he added.

-- PTI

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