THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Dec 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Supreme Court’s ruling has “strengthened the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” one day after the court upheld the central government’s decision to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution, strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and divide it into union territories.
PM Modi wrote in an article following the ruling, “In its verdict on December 11, the Supreme Court has strengthened the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat — it has reminded us that what defines us are the bonds of unity and a shared commitment to good governance.”
The President’s order from 2019 to abolish Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was upheld by the five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
The Supreme Court emphasised that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India while noting that not every action taken by the Center may be contested and that the court cannot rule on the validity of the government order.
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Constitutional integration
PM Modi further stated, “Through its judgment, the court has upheld the sovereignty and integrity of India, something that is cherished by every Indian. The court rightly observed that the decision taken on August 5, 2019 was done with the purpose of enhancing constitutional integration and not disintegration.”
In contrast to adopting a “clear position on very basic things,” the prime minister said, the nation permitted dualism, which caused confusion.
“Sadly, Jammu and Kashmir became a big victim of such a mindset. At the time of Independence, we had a choice of making a fresh start for national integration. Instead, we decided to continue with the confused-society approach even if it meant ignoring the long-term national interests,” PM Modi said.
Development, democracy and dignity
In the article, PM Modi also said “It was always my firm belief that what had happened in Jammu and Kashmir was a great betrayal — to our nation and to the people living there”.
Stating that there has been a positive transformation in the northernmost part of India since 2019, the Prime Minister remarked, “Today, the dreams of the people are no longer prisoners of the past but are possibilities of the future. After all, development, democracy and dignity have replaced disillusionment, disappointment and despondency.”
