J&K Witnessed 'Unprecedented Era Of Peace, Progress And Prosperity' Since 2019: Centre To Supreme Court On Article 370 Move

The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday that the changes made to the constitutional provision granting special status to erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in August 2019 were "historic."

According to the Centre, these changes have brought unprecedented development, progress, security, and stability to the region, which were often lacking under the old Article 370 regime.

The Centre believes that this is a testament to the prudent exercise of "Parliamentary wisdom".

In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the Centre highlighted that since 2019, the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir has "witnessed an unprecedented era of peace, progress and prosperity. It is submitted that, life has returned to normalcy in the region after over three decades of turmoil”, reports Indian Express.

The Centre asserted that life has returned to normalcy in the region after decades of turmoil.

The affidavit comes as the Supreme Court is set to hear a batch of petitions challenging the 2019 changes and the reconstitution of the state into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Tuesday (11 July).

“The flow of benefits resulting from the decision dated 5th/6th August, 2019 has started showing its impact on the common man of the region who is now getting accustomed to peace, prosperity and stability with substantial income,” the government said.

“For the first time, after independence, the residents of the region are enjoying the same rights which the residents of other parts of the country are enjoying. This has resulted into bringing the people of the region into the mainstream and thereby inevitably frustrating the sinister design of secessionist and anti-national forces," it added.

Opposing the petitions challenging the Article 370 move, the Centre emphasised that such opposition would not only go against the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh but also threaten the security and sovereignty of India.

The Centre highlighted the unique geographical situation of the region and the specific security challenges it poses.

The government has stated that the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have witnessed "profound ameliorative, affirmative and progressive changes" in the past four years encompassing its entire governance - including the developmental activities, public administration and security matters which has positively impacted every resident irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

Outlining the changes made in various fields, it said they “depict a comprehensive growth, development progress and stability in all spheres of life in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh” and were “testament to the fact that Parliamentary wisdom, both as Parliament of India representing the will of the nation and in capacity of legislature of the State representing the will of residents of the region have been exercised prudently and such democratic constitutional step is changing the entire spectrum of social and economic life of residents of the region irrespective of caste, creed and region”.

Further, the government said that street violence was “the defining characteristic of the security situation in the region” and had “a direct bearing on day-to-day life of common citizens…” It was a “methodical and regular phenomenon…engineered and orchestrated by terrorists and secessionist networks…” but “has now become thing of past”.

According to the affidavit, the number of organised stone pelting incidents connected with terrorism-separatist agenda has dropped from 1,767 in 2018 to zero in 2023.

Similarly, the number of organised Bandh/Hartal incidents has decreased from 52 in 2018 to zero in 2023.

Further, anti-terror actions have dismantled the terror eco-system, resulting in a significant reduction in terrorist recruitment from 199 in 2018 to 12 in 2023, it said.

These bandhs and stone-pelting incidents, which were engineered, financed, and forced by separatist-terrorist networks, had detrimental effects on the economy and society as a whole, it said.

They led to the closure of schools, colleges, universities, trade, industries, and businesses on a regular or intermittent basis, causing significant income loss, especially for the poor and those working in the unorganised sectors of the economy, according to the Centre.

The government said that it “has adopted a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism” and “adopted various counter measures to neutralise the efforts and capabilities of terrorists to disturb peace in the region. It has also encouraged policies to mainstream the youth, including by providing employment opportunities to wean them away from militancy".

Highlighting the industrial development initiatives being implemented in the UT, the government said that a new central sector scheme for industrial development was notified in February 2021, with a budget of Rs 28,400 crore.

The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has already received investment proposals worth Rs 78,000 crore online, the Centre informed.

“During 2022-23, a record investment of Rs.2153 Cr has materialized on ground…All the investments are coming due to the aforesaid after effects of the decision dated 5th/6th August, 2019," it said.

Further, significant progress has been made in harnessing the hydro-electric potential of the Union Territory.

According to the Centre, the hydro-electric potential of the UT, which was “highly under-utilized till this time, has been realised by starting work on 3 Projects i.e. 1000 MW Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project, 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project and 624 MW Kiru Hydro Electric Project….All the projects are expected to be completed by the year 2025-26. In addition, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 4 new projects worth Rs. 29,600 Crore have been signed which will add to the power generation capacity of 3,284 MW in the Union territory”.

The government also said that “work on transit accommodation for the Kashmiri Pandits for their safe return to the valley is in the advanced stage and is expected to be majorly completed in the next one year”.

The "improved security scenario" in the Union Territory has resulted in a significant increase in tourist footfall, with “highest ever footfall of tourists viz. 1.88 Cr tourists…only during 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022…”, it said.

The government also highlighted the significance of "hosting the G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar" in May 2023, describing it as “a watershed event in the history of valley tourism” and added that “the country proudly displayed its resolute commitment to the world that secessionist/terrorist region can be converted into a region where even international dignitaries can be invited and global events can be held”.