Prime Minister Narendra Modi while lashing out at critics over his August 5 decision to withdraw special status to the former state under Article 370 and bifurcate it into two Union Territories has said that the erstwhile state’s identity was “buried on January 19, 1990”,
The Prime Minister was referring to the migration of Kashmiri pandits during the 1990s following the inception of militancy in the valley.
“Most people had said Kashmir will be on fire if Article 370 is removed. We are being questioned for detaining some political leaders (but) on August 5, Mehbooba Mufti said India has betrayed Kashmir and we would have been better with deciding otherwise in 1947
“Omar Abdullah said removing Article 370 will separate Kashmir from India. Farooq Abdullah said if Article 370 is removed no one will unfurl national flag in Kashmir. How can we side with them?” the PM asked amid vociferous protests in parliament.
“Who made Kashmir only about land grabbing? Who made Kashmir’s identity only about bombs and guns? Can anyone forget that dark night of January? In reality, Kashmiri identity is closely linked with harmony,” he declared.
