Narendra Modi led BJP government recently created a worldwide furore and buzz when it announced to revoke Article 370 in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories. The big move called for mixed response with many lauding the brave action, across the world.

Two days later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a special broadcast and explained why his government took the drastic decision.

He said, the provision has not given anything except separatism, corruption and family rule to the state, and Pakistan has used it as a tool to spread terrorism.

The PM promised free and fair elections to be held soon, greater employment opportunities, tourism development and return of normalcy, in the state.

Modi added that the concern of people of Jammu and Kashmir was also the concern of every countryman and “their happiness, sorrow and their suffering are no different from us.”

He was happy that most Kashmiris welcomed the move and “freedom from Article 370”, barring few who disrupted the peace as they supported Pakistan.

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.

He assured that the ‘union territory’ status for J&K was not permanent and the move was taken after a lot of thought and discussion.

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 added that Kashmiris could now avail all benefits which they were deprived off till now, because of special status.

PM Modi also thanked security forces for maintaining peace in the Valley all through out.