George Holding, an influential member of the US Congress from the state of North Carolina praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his bold decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Indian constitution and usher in development of the state.
He said: “Madam Speaker, the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve better and Prime Minister Modi was right to take bold steps to address the situation.”
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Saying that the Article only benefitted those with political connections and was exploited to the hilt by Pakistan and its terrorist, he said:
“Article 370 might have worked well for those with political connections, but it denied economic opportunities for the people.
During the past decades, thousands of people lost their lives due to terrorist attacks. Several groups based in Pakistan were able to conduct cross-border terrorism that wreaked havoc on individuals and families, and led to a morbid economy.”
Despite these measures he said that Pakistan and its proxies continue to pursue relentlessly acts of wanton terror. He says:
“Even with these changes, those seeking to cause disruption have continued to promote violence.
Pakistan based terror groups have recently floated posters warning common citizens against venturing out, going to work, and visiting public places. The groups have continued to engage in cross border terrorism and have attacked civilians and children. These militant groups have also attacked migrant workers and those who are involved in the apple business, which is the chief crop of Kashmir.”
He finally lauded the efforts of the Prime Minister and the parliament. He said: “The steps that Prime Minister Modi and the parliament have taken are needed, they’re good for the long-term stability of the region, and they should be applauded.
The Indian parliament had on August 7th, 2019 approved changes to Article 370 and reorganized the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.