KATHMANDU, Dec 15: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hailed the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold his government's 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370, saying that the landmark verdict has strengthened the Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.

In his statement after the top court's verdict on the status of Article 370, Prime Minister Modi said that the court's decision has upheld the sovereignty and integrity of India. "The Supreme Court rightly observed that the decision taken on 5th August 2019 was done with the purpose of enhancing constitutional integration and not disintegration. The Court has also recognised the fact that Article 370 was not permanent in nature," he has said.

In its verdict on Monday, the SC upheld the abrogation of Article 370 as constitutionally valid but asked the government to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and hold elections here by September 2024. The top court had reserved its verdict on the matter on September 5 following a 16-day hearing.  

"In its verdict on December 11, the Supreme Court has strengthened the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. It has reminded us that what define us are bonds of unity and a shared commitment to good governance. Today, every child in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is born with a clean canvas, where he or she can paint a future full of vibrant aspirations. Today, the dreams of the people are no longer prisoners of the past but about possibilities for the future. After all, development, democracy and dignity have replaced disillusionment, disappointment and despondency," Modi further said.

The five-judge constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud held that Article 370 was a temporary provision because of war-like conditions in the state. "We hold exercise of presidential power to issue constitutional order abrogating Article 370 of Constitution as valid. We do not find the use of presidential power was malafide," the top court said in its verdict.

Prime Minister Modi also said that what had happened in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was a "great betrayal" and he desired to do all that he could to remove the same. "It was always my firm belief that what had happened in J&K was a great betrayal — of our nation and of the people living there. It was also my strong desire to do whatever I can to remove this blot, this injustice done to the people. I have always wanted to work to alleviate the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

"In very basic words, Articles 370 and 35 (A) were major obstacles, and those suffering as a result were the poor and downtrodden. They ensured that the people of J&K never got the rights and development that the rest of their fellow Indians did. Due to these Articles, a distance was created between people belonging to the same nation," he said, adding that many people who wanted to work to solve the problems of J&K were unable to even if they felt the pain of the people there," Modi further said.

PM Modi also mentioned that the judicial verdict came this year but the people’s court had given a resounding thumbs up to Parliament’s decision to abolish Articles 370 and 35(A) for four years now.

"August 5, 2019, is etched in the hearts and minds of every Indian. Parliament passed the historic decision to abrogate Article 370. Since then, much has changed in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The judicial verdict came in December 2023 but seeing the wave of development across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, the people’s court has given a resounding thumbs up to Parliament’s decision of abolishing Articles 370 and 35(A) for four years now," he added, while expressing committment to work further to promote development and well-being of people in J &K. in the days ahead.

 
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