Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on January 2, 2025, that Article 370 played a crucial role in fostering separatism among the youth in Kashmir by reinforcing the notion that Kashmir’s connection with India was temporary. He noted that despite the existence of other Muslim-majority regions in the country, terrorism has not proliferated in those areas.
During a book launch event, Mr. Shah addressed the question of how Article 370 relates to terrorism, asserting that it laid the groundwork for separatist sentiments among young people in Kashmir. He questioned why terrorism has not spread to other Muslim-majority regions, arguing that while Kashmir shares a border with Pakistan, so do states like Gujarat and Rajasthan. Yet, they have not experienced similar levels of terrorism. He emphasized that Article 370 contributed to the false belief that the relationship between India and Kashmir was fleeting. Over time, this separatism evolved into terrorism, resulting in the tragic loss of around 40,000 lives.
Mr. Shah remarked that for decades, development was sidelined as terrorism thrived in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
On August 5, 2019, Parliament annulled the special status that had been granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
At the event where he released a book on Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in New Delhi, Mr. Shah described the publication as a comprehensive account of Kashmir’s 8,000-year history, suggesting that the region may have been named after sage Rishi Kashyap.
He criticized the myth that India was never unified, attributing this belief to historical inaccuracies propagated during British rule. He argued that India is defined by its cultural boundaries rather than geopolitical ones and stated that until historians provide evidence supporting this view, a true understanding of India’s history remains elusive.
The book aims to document the histories of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh in a manner accessible to both specialists and general readers.
Raghuvendra Tanwar, chairperson of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), mentioned that this book is intended for an international audience and contributes to building a national narrative.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan mentioned that the book aims to offer a different viewpoint on the historical narrative of Kashmir. He noted that Home Minister Amit Shah frequently inquired about progress in accurately portraying historical facts and emphasized the importance of backing historical claims with evidence. This book represents an effort to dispel myths surrounding Kashmir.
Pradhan highlighted references to Kashmir in ancient texts like the Mahabharata and Vedas, asserting its significance as the origin of the Saraswati River and Sharda Lipi. He expressed confidence that this book would foster a new narrative about the region’s history.
