First time in 75 years, J&K CM took oath under Constitution of India: PM Modi

New Delhi, Oct 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that for the first time in 75 years, the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir had taken oath under the Constitution of India.

Delivering an address on the National Unity Day, the PM said, “For the first time in 75 years, the CM of J&K has taken an oath on the Constitution of India.”

He said that this symbolised the region’s integration into the democratic mainstream.

PM Modi said such steps brought the aspirations of India’s founders to life.

“The people of J&K have destroyed the propaganda going on for 70 years,” he said. “They have rejected the years-old agenda of separatism and terror.”

Highlighting India’s commitment to unity and cohesion, celebrating transformative strides toward ‘One Nation, One Constitution’, the PM hailed the abrogation of Article 370 as a landmark moment for national unity.

He said that the revocation of J&K’s special status finally enabled the full implementation of the Indian Constitution across the nation.

“The wall of Article 370, which stood like a barrier in our country, has been buried forever,” PM Modi said.

He also celebrated the recent elections in J&K as a momentous achievement in Indian democracy.

The PM highlighted the government’s efforts over the last decade to bring peace and stability to previously troubled regions, especially in the North East.

He credited agreements like the Bodo Accord, the Bru-Reang Agreement, and the National Liberation Front of Tripura Accord, ending decades of unrest and displacement.

“We extinguished the fires of separatism through dialogue, development, and trust,” PM Modi said.

He detailed a series of initiatives that foster national unity, including ‘One Nation, One Election’, ‘One Nation, One Civil Code’ and other ‘One Nation’ programmes intended to build a democratic framework across India.

“As part of our efforts for unity, we are now working on ‘One Nation, One Election,’” the PM said.

He also spoke about the progress toward a Uniform Civil Code, which he described as a “Secular Civil Code” that would foster unity and address issues of discrimination across social groups.

Expanding on the impact of government programmes aimed at inclusivity, PM Modi listed Har Ghar Jal, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, and the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme as examples of social programmes reaching all Indians without discrimination.

He said that this inclusivity had helped bridge long-standing divisions.

“Today, trust in the systems of the country has increased,” the PM said. “People’s trust in the government has increased.”

Celebrating achievements in unity, he also warned of forces within and outside India working to destabilise the country.

“Some forces, some distorted thoughts, are disturbed by the growing strength of India, the growing sense of unity in India,” PM Modi said.

He said that these efforts were fuelled by “those who want to weaken the unity of India and have a vested interest in a weak and poor India.”

The PM warned against what he described as “urban Naxals,” groups that, according to him, perpetuate division and unrest.

“Just as the Naxalism that once thrived in jungles has been suppressed, we must identify and confront those in urban areas who work with the same intentions,” he said.

PM Modi called on Indians to stay vigilant, saying, “We have to fight every lie, every misrepresentation, and live the mantra of unity.”

Connecting unity to prosperity, he urged all Indians to rally around the idea of ‘One India, Great India’, emphasising that unity was the “first prerequisite” for progress.

Drawing on Gandhian ideals, the PM invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s call for national solidarity saying: “Our ability to live in unity and in diversity will be constantly tested. We have to keep passing this test at all costs.” He emphasised that “unity is necessary for jobs, for investment,” and for building a developed, inclusive, and economically robust India.

PM Modi called on Indians to renew their dedication to unity as they celebrate National Unity Day. “Today, we have before us an India which has vision, direction, and perseverance,” he said. “When the world is divided, India stands together.”