New Delhi: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said that the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir has paved the way for the development of the Union Territories (UTs) of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
While responding to a query whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would chair an all-party meet with leaders of Jammu and Kashmir next week, Naqvi said, "The people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are being included in the development process with dignity. They are part of the developmental process now." "People are now feeling that Article 370 was one of the biggest hindrances in the developmental way of the UTs," the Union Minister said.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah constantly are in touch with the people in J-K and Ladakh and accordingly resolve their concerns," he added.
PM Modi is likely to chair an all-party meet with leaders of Jammu and Kashmir next week, sources said on Saturday.
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the national capital.
In August 2019, the Centre repealed Article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir special status and divided the state into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The government notified the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 on August 9, 2019, paving the way to create two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, which would have a legislature, and Ladakh, which will not.
The Act states that the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will increase from 107 to 114, with the Election Commission deciding on constituency delimitation.
(ANI)
