Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has strongly criticized the now-abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A, stating they “bled Jammu & Kashmir and deprived its people of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.” His remarks came during the 99th Annual Meet of Vice Chancellors in Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, on June 23, 2025.
Key Highlights from His Address
- Dhankhar paid tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his Balidan Diwas, recalling his 1952 slogan: “Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan, Ek Pradhan” (One Constitution, One Flag, One Leader).
- He emphasized that Article 370 and 35A created a legal and social divide, denying residents of J&K the same rights enjoyed by other Indian citizens.
- The Vice President hailed the August 5, 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and the Supreme Court’s 2023 verdict upholding it as a “historic correction”.
Broader Themes
Dhankhar also spoke about the transformative power of education, calling it the “great equalizer” and a cornerstone of democracy. He praised the National Education Policy 2020 for aligning with India’s civilizational ethos and urged universities to become “crucibles of innovation” and “sanctuaries of ideas”.
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