Article 370 hindering development of J&K, People now want change: PM Modi

New Delhi: The people of Kashmir want a change, including Article 35A and Article 370 as they hinder development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

“The problem in Kashmir is largely due to the 50-odd political families there. They have been milking the issue. They don’t want any benefit to be given to the common Kashmiri people. They are using public sentiment for political gains. The income tax department has cracked down on such elements,” Modi said in an exclusive interview with News18 Network Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi.

He said that people of Kashmir want freedom from “political families.”

“While stone-throwers are funded by Pakistan to protect militants, when there is crackdown by the NIA on terror operators, people stand outside their homes and clap. People of Kashmir want freedom from such political families who have been preying on their emotions for 50 years. The situation in Kashmir is such that people want change, whether it is about Article 35A or 370,” Prime Minister said.

PM Modi said it was the former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s policies which were being an obstacle for the development in the Valley.

“There must be investment and job opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir. 35A, 370 have been standing in the way of development. No one goes there to invest. We can build IIMs, but professors are not ready to go there as their children don’t get admission in schools. They can’t find homes. This ends up harming the interests of J&K. Pandit Nehru’s policies stand as an obstacle for J&K today. It needs to be reviewed,” the Prime Minister said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Kashmir Monitor staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)