Abrogation of Article 370 led to mindset change in J&K: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the abrogation of Article 370 has led to a 'change in mindset' and 'aspirational surge' in Jammu and Kashmir. He also called PoJK the only 'outstanding issue' and said PM Modi can reintegrate it.

Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday said that the abrogation of Article 370 has led to "change in mindset" in Jammu and Kashmir and noted that youth from smaller towns are excelling in examinations including in competitive tests.

'Aspirational surge' in J&K

In an interview with ANI, the Union Minister said there has been "aspirational surge". "I think one of the biggest and a significant change is that in the mindset. Today, children from small towns are topping exams... This aspirational surge took place, and they felt a feeling of belongingness, which wasn't there before, because of Article 370, they considered themselves different, and the people who were outsiders, also saw them as different," he said.

"Daughters didn't have rights over their property, and people who came from Pakistan didn't have the right to vote. Now they felt that they too are equal citizens of India," he added.

The BJP-led government at the Centre repealed Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 and bifurcated it into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

'Only PM Modi can reintegrate PoJK'

Answering another query, Jitendra Singh also reaffirmed the government's firm stance on Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the only leader capable of tackling the "outstanding issue" of the region's re-integration into the country.

In an interview with ANI, the Union Minister highlighted the significance of the unanimous parliamentary resolution passed in 1994, which declared that the entirety of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh is an integral part of India, and highlighted the BJP's affirmative participation in it.

Referring to the plight of the people in territories occupied by Pakistan, the Union Minister stated that residents of PoJK have long been treated as "second-class citizens" by Islamabad.

"(People of) PoJK have always been treated as second-class citizens by Islamabad. In 1994, a resolution was adopted in Parliament and BJP supported it. It stated that there is no issue between India and Pakistan. If there is any outstanding issue, it is PoJK and how to make it a part of the Indian Republic again. If this happens, then only PM Modi will be able to do it. No one else can do it...he has the capacity, he has the courage, he has the conviction," the Union Minister stated. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)