Srinagar, Jul 10: Senior BJP leader and MoS in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh Monday said that democratic setup was for the first time established in J&K by Prime Minister Narendera Modi after conducting three-tier Panchayat elections.

He, however, said that Congress failed to remove the Article 370 during its tenure but BJP rolled it back as it was a temporary provision.

“Grass root level democracy flourished for the first time in the history of J&K. This was missing for the past 70 years,” he said while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here. “Democracy didn’t exist in J&K earlier. Today, democracy is at grassroots level and this is for the first time in the past 70 years.”

He was replying to a query whether Assembly elections will be held in J&K. To a query about another question related to hearing Article 370 case before the Supreme Court, he said the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawhar Lal is on record in the constituent Assembly that the article was temporary and would be abolished. “Pandit Nehru had told Dr Shayama Prassad Mukherji that ye dafa (article 370) gistay gistay gis jayegi. But Congress couldn’t remove it. In fact, they should thank the BJP and PM Modi for fulfilling something promised by them,” Dr Singh.

On the happenings in Bengal, he said that political hypocrisy has come to the fore. “Those who used to accuse the Centre of killing people are themselves killing civilians. There is a governance failure and that there is state terrorism. In a democratic step, there is no place for state terrorism,” Dr Singh said. He, however, evaded the query on Union Civil Code (UCC).

Dr Singh said that PM Modi provided a great platform to the youth of the country and created a sense among them that employment is not just about government jobs but starting own business units as well. “We committed a big sin intentionally or unintentionally by keeping the J&K youth away from great and endless opportunities available across the country. There are lakhs of youth in the country who are earning a dignified living through their own start-ups,” he said.

He said the next 25 years will see a huge change across India and J&K will be part of that big change. “Youth of Kashmir want to move ahead and there are great opportunities waiting for them,” he said.kno