New Delhi, August 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed the nation on abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. In his speech, PM Narendra Modi said with revocation of Article 370 "the dream of Sardar Patel, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Atal Ji and of crores of patriots has been fulfilled". PM Modi said that new dawn and better tomorrow await Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

"We as a nation, as a family, have taken a historic decision. A system due to which brothers and sisters of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh were deprived of many rights and which was a big obstacle to their development, that system has been done away with," PM Modi said in his address to the nation. He said residents of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of development and governance due to Article 370. Jammu And Kashmir: Helpline Numbers Issued For Kashmiris Outside State, Special Trains Announced.

"There was never any discussion as to how Article 370 was adversely affecting the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. And it is surprising, no one was able to really tell how did the article benefit the people. Jammu and Kashmir was deprived of any laws that were passed by Parliament for the benefit of the entire country," PM Modi said. "Article 370 only gave separatism, terrorism, dynastic politics and corruption to Jammu and Kashmir," he added. Jammu and Kashmir Loses Privileges Under Article 370, Article 35A: What Does it Mean For Kashmiris and Other Indians?

"In different states of the country, sanitation workers come under the sanitation worker act, but workers from Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of it. In many states. strong laws are there to stop atrocities against Dalits, but this was not the case in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. PM Modi vowed to bring development and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. "Very soon, the people, police and officials of Jammu and Kashmir will be avail all benefits of national policies and programmes," he said.

PM Narendra Modi's Address to The Nation on Abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir:

In his address, PM Modi said Article 370 and Article 35A were being used as anti-India weapons by Pakistan to foment people's emotions due to which 42,000 innocent people lost their lives and Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh could not progress at the desired pace. He reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir will get full statehood once normalcy returns. "We should not forget that patriots of Jammu and Kashmir have stood firmly to counter the conspiracies of Pakistan meant to encourage terrorism and separatism," he added. Article 370 Revoked: Nirmal Singh Removes Jammu And Kashmir Flag From Official Vehicle, Watch Video.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday signed an order ending the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, a day after Parliament passed the resolution, along with a bill to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without a legislature.

Kashmir has been on lockdown since Sunday and all communication services in the region have been blocked, including cellular network, landline, mobile internet, and broadband connectivity. Kashmiris, especially students, are struggling to contact their families back in the Valley.

PM Modi, last time, had addressed the nation on March 27 during the Lok Sabha elections when he announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile (A-Sat) capability by shooting down a live satellite.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2019 08:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).