New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined his government’s vision on J&K following the dilution of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state. The PM promised free and fair elections will be held soon, greater employment opportunities, development as a tourism hub and that normalcy will return soon.

The government had in a surprise move amended Article 370 via a Presidential Order on Monday to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and semi-autonomy, in a decision that will change its terms of engagement with the Centre. The government also bifurcated the state into two Union Territories – J&K which will have its own legislature and Ladakh, which will be governed directly by the Centre.

Bracing for a violent backlash from the Kashmir Valley, the government imposed a strict clampdown on all movements and curtailed all communication from Sunday night after deploying thousands of additional troops in the Kashmir Valley. Political leaders from mainstream parties were also detained or put under house arrest. The immediate consequences of the government decisions have still not become clear as the Valley remains an information black hole.

The decision to strip special status from J&K has also further strained India’s ties with Pakistan, who expelled the Indian envoy, suspended trade ties and downgraded diplomatic relations with New Delhi in retaliation. China, too, has criticised the move, saying that unilaterally changing the status of Ladakh to a union territory was “unacceptable”.

Prime Minister begins his address by saying that nullifying Article 370 of the Constitution was a historic decision that fulfils the dreams of Sardar Patel, B.R Ambedkar and crores of patriots. He says that Kashmiris who were deprived of benefits and development because of special status, will no more be left behind.

The Prime Minister says because of Article 370, daughters were not given equal rights, sanitation workers were not given equal rights and there was no reservation for SC/ST in Jammu and Kashmir, unlike the rest of the nation. He says benefits of central schemes will now extend to the region. “Surprisingly, if we talk to anyone, no one could even tell what the benefit of Article 370 in the lives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir was.”

The Prime Minister, in a major announcement, says that all government employees in Jammu and Kashmir, including those from the J&K Police, will get the same benefits as government employees in other union territories. He says that very soon, in Jammu and Kashmir, all financial posts will be filled and this will provide jobs to the youth. He adds that PSUs and bigger private companies will also be encouraged to provide jobs.

The Prime Minister says that elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been without a government for more than a year now after the BJP ended its coalition with PDP, will be held soon. Although the Lok Sabha elections were held in the state in May, Assembly elections were not and lack of enough resources to provide security was cited as the reason at the time. The PM assures people of Kashmir that they will continue to choose their leaders like before and their CM like earlier, but the new paradigm change will improve the situation in the state. He also expressed confidence that closer cooperation with the Centre will help put an end to terrorism and separatism in the region.

The Prime Minister, like Home Minister Amit Shah before him, assures the people of Kashmir that the union territory status of J&K will not permanent. He says that the decision to keep J&K under Centre’s rule for a stipulated period of time after a lot of thought. “The reason is important to understand. Ever since Governor Rule has been implemented there, good governance and development has been seen on the ground. The schemes that were once only on paper, have now been implemented.”

Accepting that the decision has not been universally praised, the Prime Minister says it is very natural in a democracy that some people are in favour of this decision and some have differences over it. He says he respects their differences as well as their objections. The central government is also responding to the debate on it as this is our democratic responsibility, he says. Urging the critics to keep “national interest” paramount, he says that everyone must help the government give Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh a new direction.

Modi says that the concern of people of Jammu and Kashmir is also the concern of every countryman and “their happiness, sorrow and their suffering are no different from us.” He says that while most Kashmiri brothers have welcomed the “freedom from Article 370”, only a handful of people, supported by Pakistan, are trying to disrupt the peace. He expresses confidence that people of Kashmir will stand up and give such people an answer.