Modi govt demolished terror ecosystem in Kashmir: Amit Shah

Govt committed to revive historic, cultural heritage of Kashmir, will reclaim what has been lost: Shah

03/01/2025

NEW DELHI, Jan 2: Noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong resolve led to the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the BJP-led government not only "controlled terrorism but also demolished the terror eco-system from the Valley".
Amit Shah, who was speaking at the book launch of 'J&K and Ladakh Through the Ages' said that Kashmir is and has always been an inseparable part of India.
Modi government abrogated Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.
Home Minister said that Articles 370 and 35A came in the way of full unison of Kashmir with the rest of the country.
"PM Modi's strong resolve abrogated Article 370, this began the development of Kashmir along with the rest of the country... Article 370 sowed the seeds of separatism in the valley which later turned into terrorism. Article 370 spread a myth that the connection between Kashmir and India is temporary. There was terrorism for decades and the country kept watching. After the abrogation of Article 370, terrorism has been reduced by 70 per cent. Congress can accuse us of whatever they want... PM Modi released a package of Rs 80,000 crore... We not only controlled the terrorism, but PM Modi government also demolished the terror eco-system from the valley," he said.
"To understand Bharat, the facts connecting our country need to be understood. To analyse where Kashmir and Ladakh were by twisting the facts on the basis of who ruled it, who lived here, and what agreements were signed, is pointless...and only historians with a distorted sense, lacking proper sense of history can do this," he added.
The Union Minister said the book proves that the culture, languages, scripts, spiritual thoughts, artwork at pilgrim places, trade and commerce that was spread across the country was present in Kashmir for at least 10000 years and spread from there to several other parts of the country.
"When 8000-year-old books mention Kashmir and Jhelum, then no one can comment on to whom Kashmir belongs. Kashmir is and has always been an inseparable part of India. No one can separate it using sections of law. Attempts were made to separate it using law but those sections were abrogated in the flow of time and all obstacles were removed," he said.
He said India is the only country in the world whose geo-culture and boundaries have been shaped by its culture. India's geopolitical outlook can only be understood only through the country's viewpoint, he noted.
Amit Shah said time has come to get rid of history written to please rulers. "It is time to present the country's history through facts and proofs and presenting it to the world..." he said.
He expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for giving a new life to the languages of Kashmir.
"PM Modi insisted that every language spoken in Kashmir should be given importance and has to be included... This proves how a PM of any country can be sensitive towards the languages of the country," he said.
"The historians did what they did but now who can stop us? The nation is free and there is a government that is running according to the country's views... It is our work now to represent the nation with facts and proof and from our point of view," he added.
Amit Shah said Kashmir is also known as the land of Kashyap and it is possible that it is named after the sage.
He said Kashmir is also part of the Buddhist journey with the religion making its way to many countries of the region including Nepal and Afghanistan.
"This book presents all factors in detail. The art in the ruins of old temples proves that Kashmir has been a part of India. Kashmir is also an integral part of the Buddhist journey...the history from Buddhism, to demolished temples, to the use of Sanskrit, to the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, to Dogra reign, to the mistakes made after 1947 and to their rectification, all the 8000 years of history are included in this book," he said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is committed to reviving the historic and cultural heritage of Kashmir and that we will soon 'reclaim what has been lost.'
Shah made the statement after releasing the book 'Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Through the Ages: A Visual Narrative of Continuities and Linkages' here in the national capital.
Amit Shah firmly stated that Kashmir always has been and will continue to remain an inseparable part of India.
He further stressed that no legal provision could ever sever this bond, pointing "there were attempts to separate Kashmir from India in the past but time itself has nullified those efforts."
Many dignitaries including Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and Editor of the book Professor Raghuvendra Tanwar were present on the occasion.
In his address, the Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation emphasized that the National Book Trust (NBT), through its latest publication, has effectively dismantled a long-standing myth about India by presenting facts and evidence, thereby establishing historical truths.
He said that there was a myth that India was never united and the idea of independence for this country was meaningless -- a misconception that many had come to accept as truth.
The Minister highlighted that while for most countries, geo-politics have defined their boundaries, India's case is unique in the way that this nation has been defined by its geo-cultural expanse, and whose borders are made up of cultural unity.
Home Minister remarked that the relationship between Kashmir, Ladakh, Shaivism, and Buddhism has been eloquently captured in this book and exhibition. He commended the documentation of scripts, knowledge systems, spirituality, culture, and languages, emphasizing the meticulous effort that went into presenting this rich heritage.
The Minister said the book vividly chronicles the journey of Buddhism--from Nepal to Bihar via Kashi, and onward to Afghanistan through Kashmir.
He highlighted that the book also features sculptures from Drass and Ladakh, discussions and images of stupas, depictions of temple ruins destroyed by invaders, and references to the use of Sanskrit in Jammu and Kashmir, as described in Rajatarangini.
Covering Kashmir's 8,000-year history, Shah likened this comprehensive effort to encapsulating the sacred Ganga within a vessel.
He noted that for 150 years, some people's understanding of history was "confined to narrow geographies--from Dariba to Ballimaran or Lutyens to Gymkhana. He stressed that history cannot be written from a distance but requires engaging directly with the people and understanding their lived experiences."
Shah emphasized that the time has come to move beyond history written to appease past rulers, and He urged historians to confidently document India's history using evidence, facts, and the perspective of its rich, millennia-old culture, and to present it to the world with pride.
He remarked that today, India stands as an independent nation with a government committed to upholding the values and ideas rooted in its heritage.
Shah highlighted that Kashmir and Ladakh have historically served as centres of civilization, fostering creation, preservation, and cultural promotion. Numerous examples of this rich legacy are detailed in the book, noting that Kashmir has always been a land of inclusivity, embracing and nurturing diverse faiths.

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