Srinagar: Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Friday praised Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that the move caused prosperity and democratic progress in the region.
He said that by termination of the article in 2019, the notion was abolished that Jammu and Kashmir were one area separate from the rest of India. Speaking during a diplomatic visit to Indonesia, Khurshid addressed the members of the Indonesian think tanks and academics as part of an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation. He said that the special constitutional status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 had promoted a sense of isolation, which was “a major problem.”
“Kashmir had a major problem for a long time. Most of these have reflected the government’s thinking in an article called 370 of the Constitution, which somehow gave an assumption that it was different from the rest of the country. But Article 370 was canceled and finally it was terminated,” Khurshid said.
Former Foreign Minister Minister Janata Dal (United) MP is led by Sanjay Kumar Jha to a multi-party delegation. The delegation is visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore to connect with foreign policy makers and brief them on India’s regional security initiative including Operation Sindoor.
Salman Khurshid emphasized democratic benefits after the cancellation, citing 65% of the voting voting and the formation of an elected government in the Union region of Jammu and Kashmir in later elections. He said, “An election was held with 65 percent participation. Today there is an elected government in Kashmir,” he said. “Whatever has happened for the people, we want to undo, which has come to Kashmir, it will not be appropriate.” (AI)
