During his address to the Indian community members in Singapore, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized the temporary nature of Article 370, highlighting its hindrance to the extension of progressive laws to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He underscored that the recent changes have brought about visible benefits.
Jaishankar elucidated that Article 370, initially intended as a temporary provision within the Indian Constitution, inadvertently fostered an atmosphere of separatism, violence, and terrorism, posing a significant security challenge for the nation. Additionally, it impeded the application of progressive legislation to the regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.
In August 2019, the Indian government took the decisive step of abrogating Article 370, thereby nullifying the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and restructuring the state into two Union Territories. Jaishankar pointed out that the positive outcomes of this constitutional amendment are now palpable.
During the interaction, when asked about the implications of the changes, Jaishankar remarked, "Today, you can see the benefits of the change that has happened," underlining the tangible improvements resulting from the constitutional revision.
Currently on a three-day visit to Singapore since Saturday, Jaishankar's remarks shed light on the transformative impact of the constitutional amendments on the region's socio-political landscape.
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