Farooq Abdullah’s Rebuttal to PM’s ‘Naya Kashmir’ Remark
Farooq Abdullah took a strong stand against the PM’s ‘Naya Kashmir’ remark. Narendra Modi, in his address, associated Article 370 with the propagation of dynastic rule in the erstwhile state. Abdullah countered this claim, questioning the PM’s stand and throwing light on the progress of the Union Territory during the existence of Article 370.
“If Article 370 was this bad, how did Jammu and Kashmir ever make progress,” Farooq Abdullah posed this query to the nation, questioning the PM’s stance on the matter.
Context of the Controversy
The controversy centers around PM Modi’s visit to Srinagar, his first since the scrapping of Article 370. He labeled the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir as a consequence of the abolition of the erstwhile state’s special status. The PM further criticized Article 370, stating that it only served to perpetuate dynastic rule in the region.
PM Modi’s Remarks on Article 370
During his address, PM Modi condemned the misleading of the people of Jammu and Kashmir by Congress and its allies in the name of Article 370.
“For decades, for political gains, Congress and its allies misled the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the name of 370 and misled the country. Did Jammu and Kashmir benefit from Article 370 or were only a few political families taking advantage of it?” PM Modi questioned.
Farooq Abdullah’s Counter to Dynasty Politics
In response to the PM’s claims of dynasty politics in Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah expressed his dissent. He argued that if Article 370 was indeed detrimental, the progress of the Union Territory in comparison to Gujarat should be evaluated. He cited the speech made in Rajya Sabha by Ghulam Nabi Azad, in which he compared the progress of Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.
“Now, if 370 was really responsible and the family was responsible, then how did we make that progress?… I lost the election as chief minister because people rejected me. So where is the dynastic rule?… There has been no dynastic rule in India since independence…” Farooq Abdullah retorted.
PM Modi’s Vision of Development
The Prime Minister articulated a vision of development for Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that the region is now ‘breathing freely’ and scaling new heights of development. He attributed this growth to the abolition of Article 370, which he claimed was used by political families for personal benefits.
Farooq Abdullah’s View on Progress
Countering the PM’s vision, Farooq Abdullah emphasized that progress is a continuous process. He gave credit to every Prime Minister for their contribution to the nation’s development.
“Every Prime Minister did what was best for the nation,” Farooq Abdullah stated, acknowledging the efforts of all the past Prime Ministers of India.
The Impact of Article 370 on Education
The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, under the leadership of Farooq Abdullah, pointed out the positive effects of Article 370 on education. They highlighted that during the existence of Article 370, education from primary schools to universities was free.
PM Modi’s Visit to Jammu and Kashmir
This controversy surfaced during the PM’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 by his government in 2019. The PM unveiled multiple development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore during the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ programme at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium.