While addressing a function organized by the Seraj BJP Mandal at Thunag in Seraj Vidhan Sabha area of Mandi district today Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the decision of the Union Government for abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A was a historic decision, which has paved a way for visualising a dream of One Nation, One flag, One Constitution.
Jai Ram Thakur said that while working in Jammu and Kashmir for about four years as BJP worker it was always painful for him to see two flags fluttering at the same time in Jammu and Kashmir prior to scrapping of Article 370. He said that founder of Jansangh Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was in favour of having one Constitution, one flag and one Prime Minister for India. He did not support the Article 370 for Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Mukerjee believed that Article 370 would become a threat to the unity of India, he added. He expressed happiness that with this historic decision the dream of Dr. Mukherjee was accomplished.
Chief Minister said that the Article 370 was the root cause of the spread of terrorism and anti national activities in the Valley. He said that Article 35 A empowers the Jammu and Kashmir Government of special rights of deciding on its own of giving citizenship rights to the people residing there. He said that this decision even deprived the Kashmiri girls for their rights in her parental property when they marry a non Kashmiri. He said that today even the opposition stands divided on Article 370 as even they also feel that it was a biggest barrier in the path of progress and development of the State.
Jai Ram Thakur said that this decision would open a new era of peace, progress and prosperity in the Jammu and Kashmir area and it would develop leap and bound due to the farsighted Central leadership. He said that all this was possible due to the strong and able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Chief Minister said that the biggest hurdle in the way of progress and development of Jammu and Kashmir was Article 370. He said that now Jammu and Kashmir would progress and prosper along-with the Nation. He said that now the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be governed by the Laws of the Country and would also go a long way in ensuring the national safety and national integration.
Seraj Mandal BJP President Sher Singh welcomed the Chief Minister. He said that the people of the State were fortunate to have Jai Ram Thakur as Chief Minister of the State who have been stated as the second most popular Chief Minister of the country.
APMC Chairman Mandi Dalip Singh, BJP leaders from the area Bhisham Thakur and Gulzari Lal, Deputy Commissioner Mandi Rugved Thakur, Superintendent of Police Gurudev Sharma were also present of the occasion among others.