Srinagar, July 10 (KNS): Senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Dr. Jitendera Singh, Monday said that despite Congress's failure to remove Article 370, the BJP led by PM Narendra Modi, courageously abolished it, and paved way for grassroots democracy in J&K for the first time in history.

Singh commended the flourishing democratic setup in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at a function in Srinagar, Dr. Singh underscored the historic nature of recent developments, emphasizing the establishment of grassroots democracy in the region for the first time in 70 years.

Addressing reporters, Dr. Singh expressed his delight at witnessing the growth of democracy at the grassroots level, a phenomenon absent in J&K for several decades. He lauded the three-tier Panchayat elections conducted under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, asserting that they paved way for the unprecedented progress in democratic governance.

"The flourishing of grassroots democracy in J&K marks a watershed moment in its history," Dr. Singh stated. "For 70 years, the region had been devoid of this essential democratic fabric. Today, thanks to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we have witnessed the realization of true democratic values at the grassroots level."

When asked about the possibility of assembly elections in J&K, Dr. Singh refrained from offering a definitive answer, indicating that further considerations and discussions were required before a decision could be reached.

Highlighting the BJP's role in Article 370 removal, he noted that it was originally intended as a temporary provision, as stated by former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the constituent Assembly. Dr. Singh pointed out that despite Congress' failure to remove Article 370 during their tenure, the BJP accomplished its repeal, fulfilling a promise initially made by the Congress party.(KNS).