Article 370: Modi getting world powers on his side

JAMMU: In a veiled reference to abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that there was is no scope for temporary in India, and asserted that corruption, nepotism, loot of people's money, and terrorism have been reined in like never before, as he continued getting the world powers on his side on the recent decisions on strife-torn State, giving Pakistan, desperately trying to internationalise the matter and somehow rope in third party mediation, rattles one after another.

Addressing the Indian diaspora at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in France, Modi hit out at the previous opposition-led governments over Article 370, he said it was ironical that the country had taken 70 years to eliminate the temporary provision that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi was in France on the first leg of his three-nation tour, and held marathon one-on-one talks with French President Emmanuel Macron who later spoke in India’s favour, and said India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally and no third party should "interfere or incite" violence in the region.

To add salt to Pakistan's wounds, United Arab Emirates (UAE), a major Islamic nation, is set to present ‘Order of Zayed', the highest civil decoration of the country to Modi for giving a boost to ties between the two countries.

Modi had reached UAE late Friday night and is set to stay there for two days.

Modi on Friday said the resounding mandate to the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls was for building a 'new India', and asserted that corruption, nepotism, loot of people's money, and terrorism have been reined in like never before.

In a veiled reference to abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said, "there is no scope for temporary in India. You would have seen that a country of 1.25 billion people, the land of Mahatma Gandhi, Gautam Buddha, Ram, Krishna, took 70 years to remove what was temporary. To remove temporary it took 70 years.

“I dont know whether I should laugh or cry...Reform, perform, and transform and with permanent systems, the country is moving forward to achieve its goal," the PM said, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Pakistan and India should resolve the Kashmir situation, and there was no place for third party interference.

Addressing the Indian community, Modi also talked about "major decisions" such as banning of practice of triple talaq, taken by his government in its second term.

"India is racing ahead not because of Modi...it is because of the stamp of approval that the people of India have given in the form of their votes," the Prime Minister said amid loud cheering of 'Modi hai toh mumkin hai' (it is possible if Modi is there) from the crowd.

He also asserted that "in 'new India', corruption, nepotism, dynasty, loot of people's money, and terrorism have been reined in like never before."

Earlier on Thursday, India had got a major shot in arm when French President Emmanuel Macron had said that India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir issue bilaterally and no third party should "interfere or incite" violence in the region.

In a joint press statement after the talks between two, Macron said that Modi briefed him about the recent decision taken by India on Jammu and Kashmir and that it is in their sovereignty.

"I told him that India and Pakistan will have to find a solution to the issue and no third party should interfere or incite violence in the region," Macron said.

Macron said he told Modi it was the responsibility of both India and Pakistan "to avoid any deterioration on the ground which could lead to an escalation".

He said that peace should be maintained in the region and peoples' rights should be protected.

Scrapping of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state has badly rattled Pakistan, which is desperately trying to internationalise the matter and somehow rope in third party mediation but without any success.

Pakistan has been calling up several countries with a plea that they should push India to revoke the decision and has even tried to blackmail the world community with threats of war with India and by saying that it would not be able to help in international war against terrorism in Afghanistan.

However, all the foreign countries have virtually rebuffed the Pakistani leaders by refusing to get involved. While some maintained that it is India's internal matter, a few others said Pakistan and India should have bilateral talk on it.

Pakistan's "all-weather friend" China, while holding that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, placated Islamabad by getting the UN Security Council to hold "informal" discussions on the developments in the state.
But Pakistan's effort, through China, to make UNSC issue some statement against India, failed miserably as it was not done. Among the five Permanent members of the UNSC, the US, Russia, France and UK maintained, individually, that the matter should be discussed bilaterally between India and Pakistan.

The biggest shocker for Pakistan has been the attitude of the Gulf countries and the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), which have not fallen for Pakistan's bait.
To add salt to Pakistan's wounds, United Arab Emirates (UAE), a major Islamic nation, is set to present ‘Order of Zayed', the highest civil decoration of the country to Modi for giving a boost to ties between the two countries.

Modi arrived in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi from Paris on the second leg of his three-nation tour to France, UAE and Bahrain.

From Abu Dhabi, Modi will visit Bahrain where he will hold talks with King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and also witness the formal beginning of the re-development of the temple of Shreenathji -- the oldest in the Gulf region before returning to France on Sunday to attend the G7 Summit meetings.

Modi's visit to Bahrain is significant as it will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the country.

He would also meet and interact with the Indian diaspora during the visit.