Article 370 Facilitated Militancy In J-K, 42,000 Lives Lost: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Union minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which gave Jammu and Kashmir special status, facilitated militancy in the state and around 42,000 innocent lives were lost in the past three decades. He also stressed that in the four weeks after the abrogation of provisions of Article 370, not a single bullet has been fired nor a single tear gas shell lobbed.

"#Article370 facilitated militancy in #Jammu & #Kashmir, around 42,000 innocent lives were lost in last 3 decades. Security forces functioned with utmost restrain during tumultuous years of militancy. However each soldier or civilian lost is huge loss to nation (SIC)," he said while addressing a programme organised to honour war veterans, including Param Vir Chakra recipients, in Kochi, Kerala.

The Union minister for PMO said the nation is indebted to its armed forces and there can be no pardon for those who abuse security persons.

The security forces, both military and paramilitary, he said, have functioned with utmost restrain during the tumultuous years of militancy in Kashmir and each soldier lost or each civilian lost is a huge loss to the nation as a whole.

Hitting out at some Kashmir-centric politicians who have been making unsubstantiated allegations against the armed forces in Kashmir valley, Singh said these carry no weightage and therefore, deserve to be treated with the contempt they deserve.

He said the message should go out loud and clear that there will be no more any premium on anti-India activism by certain vested interests.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Union minister for PMO said the nation is indebted to its armed forces.
• Singh said not a single bullet has been fired nor a single tear gas shell lobbed.
• There can be no pardon for those who abuse security persons, he said.