Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD): Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to making Jammu and Kashmir permanently free from terrorism while addressing a group of youngsters from the Union Territory under the Watan Ko Jano youth exchange programme in New Delhi today.
Shah emphasized that peace in J&K must be lasting and that the Narendra Modi-led government envisions a future where no lives are lost to terrorism. He urged the youth to spread the message of harmony and development in their communities.
Highlighting the impact of the abrogation of Article 370, Shah asserted that people of J&K now enjoy equal rights across India. He pointed to the region’s infrastructure growth, including new hospitals, roads, bridges, and educational institutions, as evidence of progress over the past decade.
“Terrorism has claimed 36,000 lives in J&K, but violence leads nowhere. Under the Modi government, peace and development have taken center stage,” Shah stated, adding that incidents of stone pelting and terror-related activities have significantly declined.
The Home Minister also encouraged the youth to explore other states to understand India better, saying, “Jammu and Kashmir is one of 30 states, and together they form our great nation. You must visit and experience the rest of the country.”
Shah further underscored the region’s infrastructural advancements, mentioning the world’s tallest railway bridge, Asia’s longest tunnel, and the establishment of two AIIMS and two IIMs in J&K. He urged students not to abandon their education, assuring them of ample opportunities across the country.
His remarks align with the government’s broader narrative of integrating J&K into the national mainstream, but opposition parties may challenge claims of absolute peace and development, citing ongoing security concerns and governance issues.(DD)
