J&K LG Sinha calls for unity against terrorism in Baramulla
The LG was interacting with the youth in the border district town of Baramulla in North Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 8 pm today amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan as the Parliament on Tuesday approved a resolution to scrap Article 370 and passed a bill to split the state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The Prime Minister is expected to speak on the Centre’s move to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the state.
Earlier, it was reported that the PM would address the nation at 4 pm today.
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He is likely to outline the government’s vision on Jammu and Kashmir, and how it plans to bring about development to the now Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh.
The government has planned to rope in big investors into the state, fast track the Srinagar Metro and involve people in the development process, all of which officials say were earlier being hampered by Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
With the separatists and pro-independence sympathisers under lockdown, the NDA government plans to roll out big-time development in the two border Union Territories.
Pakistan, which has been insisting on terming Kashmir as a disputed international issue and has expelled the Indian envoy in Islamabad, could find mention in the Prime Minister’s speech.
The Prime Minister’s speech comes ahead of his August 15 Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, where he spells out his vision for the nation.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has decided to downgrade diplomatic relations with India over the Kashmir move.
The decision was taken at a meeting of National Security Committee (NSC) – the second within a week – presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan to review the situation following the Indian government’s move on Kashmir.
As per the Pakistan National Security Council decision, the government has decided to downgrade diplomatic relations with India, suspend bilateral trade with New Delhi, review bilateral arrangements, take up Kashmir matter with the UN and observe August 14 in solidarity with brave Kashmiris.
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