Jammu: Asserting that people are happy since the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution were abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday said the article was temporary but still lasted for 70 long years.
He also said B R Ambedkar had refused to draft Article 370 while drafting the other articles of the Constitution.
“I had been advocating for it for 20 years. It was an aberration. Go to the text of the Constitution and see that this article was put as a temporary article; it lasted for the last 70 years,” Dhankhar said while addressing a convocation of the University of Jammu at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium here.
He said Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, declined to draft Article 370. “Now, we are happy that it is not there (in Jammu and Kashmir),” he said.
Remembering the words of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee — “ek mulk mein do nishan, do pradhan nahi chalenge” (a country cannot have two symbols and two leaders), Dhankhar said that is no longer the case now.
He said there is a harmonious atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir now since the provisions of Article 370 have been abrogated and added that it is the greatest tribute to Mukherjee, who laid down his life for a strong and united India.
“Tomorrow (on June 23) is his martyrdom day. He died as a detenue in the Srinagar jail on this day. He died within days after his arrest,” the vice-president said.
Lauding the work done by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, he said “massive development is taking place in the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370.”
The erstwhile state’s “integration with the Union has paved the way for investments and a boom in tourism,” Dhankhar said while pointing out that Jammu and Kashmir has all the top institutions of the country now, including an Indian Institute of Management (IIM), an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and “even an AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)”.
“Jammu will be an education hub,” he added.
Talking about India’s growth in the global market, Dhankhar said the country has 70 crore internet users, much more than in the United States or in China.
Asserting that democracy is flourishing in India, he said Indians feel proud about it.
He also credited the success of a G20 meeting in Srinagar to the LG.
Dhankhar also raised concerns about those who protest against being summoned by law-enforcement agencies, emphasising that no one is exempt from the law. He said a clear message has been given in the last few years that the law applies to everyone, regardless of their status or background.
“I can tell you that these (protests on streets in response to legal issues) changes are taking place in the last few years. No one is above the law. The long arm of law will reach you. Some people in the country have taken to themselves that ‘we are above law’.
“If ‘X’ is summoned by a regulatory agency, how can you take to the streets …?” Dhankhar said.
Asserting that there is zero tolerance to corruption, he said everyone will be accountable to law.
“Stakeholders in corruption will get all forces together to get an escape route. The good thing is that all their escape routes have been plugged. There is zero tolerance for corruption. The message is loud and clear. You may be anyone or having any identity or lineage, you are accountable to law. The mechanism is transparent and accountable and effective,” he said.
Referring to an episode involving Time magazine about ChatGTP, the vice-president stressed that if the silent majority chooses to remain silent, their voice may be silenced forever.
He urged all citizens to actively embrace nationalism and not underestimate the gravity of these sinister designs that seek to undermine India’s growth story. Protecting the country’s progress from impediments is of utmost importance, he added.
“It is ironic that false narratives are set afloat in an orchestrated manner by forces that are inimical to this country. Some of us do not take it seriously. Their number is small. I was enthused by what the Lieutenant Governor (of Jammu and Kashmir) said about Time magazine. I will reflect on another episode focused on Time magazine. It was a cover story. If the silent majority decides to remain silent, it may be silenced forever,” he said.
Dhankhar appealed to people to use their mind, activate their nationalism and not to take lightly these erroneous designs communicated in a sinister manner to run down India’s growth story. “We cannot allow it to be impeded,” he said.
The vice-president underscored the country’s remarkable achievements and called upon the citizens to take pride in its accomplishments.
Emphasising the country’s rising stature as the mother of the oldest democracy, he expressed his belief that India’s progress is unstoppable.
He encouraged everyone to make their voices heard, particularly during times when global events shape the world like never before. He expressed concern over a small faction of individuals attempting to tarnish and demean the nation’s institutions, stressing the importance of addressing such behaviour.
“Our rise is unstoppable. I urge and call on you to take pride in our achievements when all is going well and the world looks toward the leader of the biggest democracy, which is the mother of world democracies. These are the days when we have to make our voice clear to the world,” he said.
Without naming anyone, Dhankhar said, “It is a cause of concern and worry when some of us, a small category of people, try to tarnish, demean and decry our institutions. How can we ignore it? We cannot allow historic achievements to be run down.”
