Article 370 gone, Modi govt draws up plan to reopen 50,000 temples closed in Kashmir

The BJP's latest assertion comes on the back of the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre had claimed that a large section of people was being subjected to injustices due to the special status to the state which did not allow the schemes meant for the rest of India to be implemented in the state.

The Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has set up a committee to survey around 50,000 temples that were closed in Jammu and Kashmir. Informing about the move, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said that the central government has set up a committee to survey a number of closed schools in Kashmir valley and will reopen them. “Around 50,000 temples were closed over the years, of which some were destroyed, and idols were defaced. We have ordered a survey of such temples,” the minister said while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru.

He, however, stopped short of saying that the survey has been ordered to reopen or re-build all the closed or destroyed temples. When asked about the existence of 50,000 temples in the Valley, the minister said: “Yes, there are 50,000 temples including villages…and almost all of them have been closed.” When asked whether the government would re-open all of them, the minister while nodding his head said: ”We are conducting a survey — how many temples were there, of which how many of them are open, how many of them have been destroyed. We are doing a survey of all schools, temples and cinema theatres that are not open and working.”

In October 2012, the Jammu and Kashmir government run by Congress-NC had claimed that only 208 temples were damaged in the Valley. In a written reply to the state assembly in response to the question by a BJP MLA, the state government said that there were 438 temples in the Valley and out of these only ”208 had been damaged over the years”. It said that 57 temples were damaged in Srinagar, followed by Anantnag where 56 temples were damaged. However, the Kashmiri Pandits, who were driven out of their homes in the peak of militancy, claims that thousands of temples have been destroyed since the 1990s.

The BJP’s latest assertion comes on the back of the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. The Centre had claimed that a large section of people was being subjected to injustices due to the special status to the state which did not allow the schemes meant for the rest of India to be implemented in the state. Arguing that Article 370 was always a temporary measure, the Centre decided to divide the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh — putting the region under the direct control of the central government.

(Source: Financial Express)

Ladakh is finally free after Article 370: Kashmir humiliated us and snatched our funds. We never wanted to be with them

The removal of Article 370 means Ladakh is finally free of Kashmir and can be a Union Territory. The Ladakhis are thrilled for this means real development, denied to us thus far by Kashmir.

The removal of Article 370 means Ladakh is finally free of Kashmir and can be a Union Territory. The Ladakhis are thrilled for this means real development, denied to us thus far by Kashmir.

We, the people of Ladakh, are extremely happy that Article 370 has been removed.

All of us in Ladakh, irrespective of which party we belong to, support this move by the BJP. All of us wanted that our hilly area be declared a union territory (UT).

Everything which was announced by Home Minister Amit Shah was fine — except for the fact that we wanted Ladakh to have UT status along with a legislature. Without a legislature, it will still be hard for us to frame our own rules but we will fight for it. We have now got freedom from Kashmir — perhaps people don't know this but our slogan has always been to free Ladakh from Kashmir.

De-link already: Huge agitations were organised for Ladakh to be free from Kashmir. (Photo: ANI)

Ever since India gained its independence, none of us in Ladakh wanted to be part of Kashmir.

We were made to go with a state which didn’t care about us — only themselves.

Even the politicians in J&K would always frame laws for the Valley. What would Ladakh get nothing? Not even an iota of development took place in our area simply because of us being part of Kashmir.

From day one of India's independence, it was totally against the wishes of the Ladakhi people that we were integrated with Kashmir. We continuously and vociferously opposed this move and an option was given to India that we be governed independently or let us alternatively be clubbed with East Punjab. Our leaders had given this option in writing to Jawaharlal Nehru — but unfortunately, nothing of that sort happened.

All of us in Ladakh led agitations to make our region into a UT. Now, we are not concerned with Kashmir — they will have to mind and mend their own business.

Politics in Ladakh is different from what is there in the entire country. Irrespective of which party you belong to, everyone here supports development. This is why I, being in the Congress, support the removal of Article 370.

I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for giving Ladakh our identity back.

Article 370 was a draconian provision which was primarily for the upkeep and maintenance of Kashmiris. There was no rules therein to protect the interests of the people living in Jammu or Ladakh.

In the last 70 years, the people of Ladakh have been faced thus with immense humiliation. Staying with Kashmir, at every level, we faced discrimination — when it came to allotments, employment, fund allocation, central government, whatever our people wanted to do couldn’t be done without the consent of the state.

Politicians in Kashmir blackmailed the centre to get extra benefits over there — which led to zero development in Ladakh. Here, instead, middlemen would simply run away with the funds allocated for us.

Welfare and development money never reached Ladakh as the funds would always stay in the Valley. All the development which has taken place in Ladakh today is only because of the army. They have made roads — and that’s what we have got.

Now, with Ladakh being a UT, new schools will come up, our kids will go to proper schools — I cannot adequately express the happiness at that thought. Central government will send funds straight to Ladakh and development will take place without anyone eyeing ways to take away our designated money.

From the very beginning, Article 370 should have been removed — this moment is in our favour.

(Source: Daily O)

After Article 370’s revocation, proud Ladakh MP delivers his speech in Parliament, says the only impact will be on two families

The BJP MP from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal had put an end to infamous critics of Article 370’s revocation by declaring that the only impact will be on ‘two families’ who would lose source of income, means of support as a result.

Namgyal narrated how Ladakh has been fighting constantly for a Union Territory status for the last 71 years and also highlighted how the region never wanted to be a part of Kashmir.

Take a look at the copy of Namgyal’s landmark speech in the Lok Sabha:

He then alleged uncontrolled discrimination against Ladakh at the hands of the Kashmiri set up especially when it came to education and job opportunities.

“You misused Article 370 to drive out Kashmiri Pandits from the valleys, you tied to finish off the Buddhist population in the state, is this your secularism?”, questioned Namgyal.

“Ladakh wishes to become an unbreakable part of India”, Namgyal had mentioned indicating the region’s strong support for scrapping Article 370 and then went on to thank all the supporters of the bill.

This speech drew a staggering response from Lok Sabha members including the Home Minister Amit Shah.

(Source: The Youth)