After Eliminating Terrorism, India Will Reclaim What Has Been Lost: Amit Shah On Kashmir

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that India will reclaim what has been lost in Kashmir, a veiled reference to the territory occupied by Pakistan and the cultural glory of the region.

A Book On J&K

Speaking at the book release event of 'Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh: Through the Ages—A Visual Narrative of Continuities & Linkages,' Shah said that Kashmir will remain an inseparable part of India and its soul.

"Kashmir has always been an inseparable part of India, is so today and will remain in future also and we shall soon see Kashmir regain its cultural glory," the IANS quoted Shah as saying at the event.

Recalling the BJP founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee's statement, the Union Home Minister stated that J&K is inseparable part of the country's soul. He said that the book, who tries to present the story of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, both the union terriroties are part of India culture and heritage.

The Role of Article 370 in Kashmir's Integration

"Article 370, which was an attempt to separate Kashmir from the nation, was also pulled down," he added. "In the Constituent Assembly, the majority did not want Article 370 to be a part of the Constitution. However, it became a part. But there were some people who, when it became a part, felt that it was necessary to write it as a temporary provision," he added.

"What is artificial, what is not natural or organic, does not have a long-lasting existence. And it was with the strong determination of PM Modi that on August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abrogated. It ended a tainted chapter of our post-Independence history. And from there, a new chapter of Kashmir's development alongside the rest of India began," he continued.

Terrorism Ecosystem Eliminated

The Union Home Minister stated that India has taken control of the terrorism issue in Kashmir. He continued, "We have not only gained control over terrorism, but we have also succeeded in stopping it. Narendra Modi government has also worked to eliminate the ecosystem of terrorism from the Valley. And all of this has happened for this land, which has made a significant contribution to the civilisations of the country and the world. The scholars of Kashmir have enriched our country's languages, grammar, and various forms of knowledge."

"In 2024, there have been no incidents of stone-pelting in Jammu and Kashmir. Over 25,000 Panchayat members, Sarpanch, Tehsil Panchayat members, and District Panchayat members won elections and are now running their villages, Tehsils, and districts. Panchayati Raj and democracy have deepened at the grassroots level. The highest voter turnout in the past 33 years was recorded recently," he added.

Book Scans Scriptures

Amit Shah lauded the book, edited by Raghuvendra Tanwar, for its comprehensive documentation of Jammu and Kashmir's history. "The book scans 3,000-year-old scriptures and traces the journey of Buddhism from India to Afghanistan and Western Asia," he said.

He highlighted the book's inclusion of pictures and accounts of damaged temples, Sanskrit usage in Kashmir, the Dogra dynasty's progressive rule, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh's valor. It also addresses mistakes made post-1947 and their subsequent rectification, presenting a detailed visual narrative of Kashmir's cultural and historical legacy.

The Home Minister concluded by emphasizing Kashmir's enduring contribution to India's civilization. "Scholars from Kashmir have enriched our languages, grammar, and knowledge systems. This region's legacy is not just India's but a contribution to world civilization," Shah stated.