I showed courage on Article 370, changed J&K’s fate: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the fate of Jammu and Kashmir has changed after the abrogation of Article 370.

“I feel that political leadership is becoming questionable. In such a situation, we should remember that we have a tradition of ‘Pran Jaye par Vacchan na Jaye’. (You can lose your life but not your word). I believe that politicians should take ownership, they should take responsibility. What I say is my responsibility and I have given the guarantee for that. I also commit and I take ownership. Take the case of Article 370, it has been our party’s commitment. When it was my turn, I showed courage and did away with 370. And today, the fate of Jammu and Kashmir has changed,” he told ANI in an interview.

PM said he has taken on the opposition for failing to keep its promises to the people. Prime Minister said that politicians need to take ownership of the statements they make to the people.

“Triple Talaq. Many things happened to the political leadership, and they got scared. People said, why should we trust them? They say one thing and the other. But people started believing. Trust is a very big power. And in a country like India, I consider this trust as my responsibility. And that is why I say this again and again,” he said.

 Prime Minister Modi shredded the Opposition’s claim that there is “no level playing field” in the election, pointing out that only three percent of the cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate are against political leaders. Moreover, the rules governing investigating agencies were not made by his government.

The government, he said, has made every effort to include the Opposition in the formation of institutions, even tweaking the law to include the leader of the Opposition in the panel choosing election commissioners.

“The Enforcement Directorate is doing a good job. 97 percent cases are against those not involved in politics,” PM Modi said in an exclusive wide-ranging interview with news agency ANI when asked about the matter.

“Not a single law (ED, CBI filing cases) was brought by my government. On the contrary, Election Commission reforms were brought by my government,” PM Modi said regarding Opposition allegations of BJP influence over investigative agencies like the CBI, IT, and the Enforcement Directorate.

“Those close to the ‘family’ were made Election Commissioners who later got Rajya Sabha seats and ministries…We (BJP) can’t play at that level,” PM Modi added.

The Opposition allegations despite all that only prove that they are preparing the ground to explain the coming failure, he added, citing the earlier complaints about Electronic Voting Machines.

In the interview, PM Modi also fielded questions on multiple issues including “Modi ki guarantee”, the One-Nation-One Election, his 100-day plan, and the long-term plans for 2047, when Independent India turns 100.

“I have big plans…kissi ko darne ki zaroorat nahin hai (no one needs to fear it). My decisions are not made to scare anyone or to diminish anyone. They are made for the overall development of the country,” PM Modi said when asked about his “Abhi toh trailer hai” comment on the 10 years of the NDA government.

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