Article 370 and 35A were the gateway of terrorism in India, says Amit Shah

Amit Shah said the decision to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A was taken after the Modi government got a massive mandate in 2019 general elections.

New Delhi: On Thursday Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution were the gateway of terrorism into Jammu and Kashmir and Prime Minister Narendra Modi closed the gate by abrogating it.

Shah said “Article 370 and 35A were the gateway of terrorism in India. Prime Minister Modi has closed this gate by repealing them,”.

Amit Shah flagged off the ‘Run for Unity’ event on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi to commemorate the 144th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

सरदार पटेल ने भारत को अखंड बनाया पर जम्मू-कश्मीर के रूप में एक कसक छूट गयी थी।

प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी ने जम्मू-कश्मीर को धारा 370 के अभिशाप से मुक्त कर सरदार साहब के अधूरे स्वप्न को पूरा कर उन्हें श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित की है। pic.twitter.com/0khfC9oZQv

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 31, 2019

Apart from Rashtriya Ekta Diwas the day also marks the official bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The UTs come into existence from Thursday after the central government on August 5 decided to abrogate the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and create them on October 31.

At the event, BJP chief Shah said that Sardar Patel’s unfulfilled dream of integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country was accomplished on August 5 when Article 370 and 35A were repealed.

Amit Shah said when India attained independence, there were more than 550 princely states and everyone thought that even though India got independence, the country would be disintegrated.

During Mahatma Gandhi had entrusted Sardar Patel the task of integrating the princely states into the Union of India which he completed with distinction, said Shah.

But one thing remained to be completed and that was the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union of India, said Shah.

एक भारत की कल्पना को सरदार पटेल ने साकार किया।

पूरी दुनिया मानती थी कि 550 से अधिक रियासतों में बंटा हिंदुस्तान कैसे एक रह सकता है, कैसे प्रगति कर सकता है।

लेकिन सरदार पटेल ने देश को एक करने की कमान सम्भाली और आज पूरी दुनिया उस एक भारत को श्रेष्ठ भारत बनते देख रही है। pic.twitter.com/PGpql3sPJC

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 31, 2019

He added “Article 370 and 35A became a problem in this integration process and no one touched on these subjects. The dream which was not fulfilled of Patel was realized on August 5 when these two were repealed and the full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India was completed,”

Amit Shah said the decision to abrogate Article 370 and Article 35A was taken after the Modi government got a massive mandate in 2019 general elections.

The home minister said for many years, Sardar Patel did not get the respect he deserved, he was ignored and there were even attempts to forget him.

He said Sardar Patel was not given Bharat Ratna for many years, his proper statue was not installed, nor his portrait was allowed to be put up.

When Modi became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Amit Shah said, PM started the process of giving due honour to Sardar Patel.

PM Modi said referring to the ‘Statue of Unity’ of Sardar Patel located in Gujarat’s Kevadia, sourced iron pieces from the farmers, soil from every village of Gujarat and water from various rivers to pay a humble tribute to the man who unified India.

Union Minister said the map of India today is seen because of the efforts made by Sardar Patel to unify more than 550 princely states of the country.

Shah said, “A unified India came into existence due to Sardar Patel and we humbly remember him today,”. He was also administering a unity pledge to the participants of the run.

People wore white T-shirts bearing Sardar Patel’s photo assembled at the National Stadium and the India Gate roundabout here for the run.