New Delhi: In the wake of a complete communication shut down and a communication blockade in Kashmir, following the scrapping of special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, told news agency IANS that the people had supported the Centre’s steps.

Stating that the people who had opposed the decisions were “usual vested interest groups, political dynasties and those who sympathised with terror and some friends in the Opposition," Modi said that the people, regardless of their political preferences “have supported the steps taken in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh."

“This is about the nation, not politics. The people of India are seeing that tough but essential decisions that were earlier assumed to be impossible are becoming a reality. It is now clear to everyone how Articles 370 and 35(A) fully isolated Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The status quo of seven long decades clearly could not fulfil people’s aspirations. Citizens were kept away from the fruits of development. The greatest casualty was the lack of any proper economic avenues to increase earnings. Our approach is different- instead of the vicious cycle of poverty, the people need more economic opportunities," PM Modi said.