Kashmir changes will end terrorism: Modi |
NEW DELHI : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the nation Aug. 8 that he stripped Kashmir of its statehood and special constitutional status in order to free the disputed Himalayan region of “terrorism and separatism. ”Kashmir is claimed in full by both India and its arch-rival Pakistan, although each controls only a part of it and rebels have been fighting Indian rule in the portion it administers for decades. This week, India downgraded the divided region from statehood to a territory, limited its decision-making power and eliminated its right to its own constitution. In a national broadcast, Modi described the changes for Jammu and Kashmir, as the region is formally known, as historic. He assured its residents that the situation will soon “return to normal gradually,” although he gave no specifics. Modi said the “mainstreaming” of the Kashmiri people with the rest of the nation would expedite development and create new jobs with investment from public and private companies. He accused neighboring Pakistan of using the past arrangement “as a weapon to incite people of the region against India. “This heaven on earth, our Jammu and Kashmir, will once again reach new heights of development and attract the whole world toward it Ease of living will increase for our citizens.
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