Walls of separation crumbled with Art 370 abrogation: V-P

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said that the special status for Jammu and Kashmir was a temporary provision in the Constitution and that the "walls of separation" had crumbled with the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

- Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

JAMMU:

Addressing the 10th convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University at Kakryal in Reasi, Dhankhar said, "The aspirations of generations found wings when the constitutional walls of separation crumbled in 2019 with the historic abrogation of Article 370. In the sacred land of Mata Vaishno Devi, a new pilgrimage began, the journey from isolation to integration."

On Article 370, he said, "Dr B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, drafted all articles except Article 370. I would urge you to go into the historical perspective to know the background behind why he declined to do so." He also recalled the efforts of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in integrating states as home minister. "Now, the winds of change have brought peace and progress. There was a demand by a great son of the soil of one nation, one Constitution and that has been accomplished," he said in an apparent reference to Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, who founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

The Vice-President recalled his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir in the early 1980s, when he visited Gulmarg, Sonamarg and other places along with his family.