New Delhi, October 31,2026- Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the abrogation of Article 370 had firmly integrated Kashmir with the rest of India, highlighting it as one of the significant decisions taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure.
During his address on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Shah said, “During PM Narendra Modi’s tenure, many significant decisions have been taken and major milestones achieved, such as the abrogation of Article 370, which firmly integrated Kashmir with India.”
Referring to the Prime Minister’s leadership, the Home Minister highlighted the government’s decisions aimed at strengthening national unity and advancing the country’s development. He made the remarks as part of the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
Shah also referred to other major initiatives, including the One Nation, One Tax system and efforts to address security challenges in different parts of the country. He said these measures reflected the government’s focus on national integration and strengthening India’s institutional framework.
The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 marked a major constitutional change for Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Government removed the region’s special constitutional status and subsequently reorganised the erstwhile state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The government maintained that the decision would strengthen national integration, extend central laws and welfare schemes to the region and create new opportunities for development. The move also generated significant political and constitutional debate across the country.
The Supreme Court of India, in its December 2023 judgment, upheld the constitutional validity of the steps taken to abrogate Article 370. It also directed the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest and ordered Assembly elections to be conducted by September 30, 2024.
Shah’s remarks brought the focus back to the constitutional changes and their place in the Centre’s national integration agenda.
The Home Minister also highlighted the importance of unity in India’s diverse society, saying the country’s cultural, linguistic and religious diversity remained a source of strength. He recalled Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contribution to the integration of princely states after Independence and described his legacy as an inspiration for national unity.
He further spoke about the government’s campaign against drug abuse, emphasising the need to protect young people and build a drug-free India. He called for collective participation in addressing the challenge of substance abuse.
The ‘Run for Unity’ formed part of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations held on October 31 to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.
Through his address, Shah reiterated the Centre’s position that the abrogation of Article 370 was a significant milestone in strengthening Kashmir’s integration with the rest of the country, while national unity, security and development remained central themes of the government’s agenda.
