NEW DELHI: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has asserted that the situation in Jammu & Kashmir has undergone a fundamental transformation ever since PM Narendra Modi took over in 2014 and more so post Article 370 abrogation.

In a Podcast conversation with PTI Editor-in-Chief Vijay Joshi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, "Peace in J&K is no longer bought by appeasement". This underlines a complete departure from the approach adopted by the UPA Government and a shift in the Centre's approach.

Post Article 370, there is a mental union and a feeling of belonging strongly felt among the citizens of J&K, the Union Minister, who hails from J&K, said.

The Minister, who represents the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency of Jammu & Kashmir, said that while physical and legal changes post-2019 have been widely acknowledged-such as the extension of rights to women and refugees previously denied due to discriminatory provisions-what is less discussed is the psychological shift. "There is now a sense of being one among fellow countrymen," he said, adding that those from Jammu & Kashmir no longer see themselves as distinct or different from fellow countrymen in the rest of India.

The Minister attributed this change to the removal of constitutional barriers that had conditioned successive generations. "Earlier, a citizen from J&K would look at himself as someone different... now there is a sense of belonging," he said. He described it as a "mental blockade" being lifted-an important but underappreciated outcome of the constitutional changes made in 2019.

Responding to renewed demands from opposition leaders for restoration of full Statehood to Jammu & Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated the government's position. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already assured, more than once, that Statehood will be restored "at the appropriate time". He said, "there is every reason to trust what the Prime Minister says".

Talking about the recent Pahalgam attack and broader concerns over security, Dr. Jitendra Singh referred to Pakistan's longstanding hostility towards India's sovereignty over J&K. "Pakistan had never reconciled to J&K being a part of India. From wars to infiltration to sponsoring terrorism, it's been a protracted design," he remarked. But he added that the current government's approach-marked by firmness rather than appeasement-has been a decisive factor in stabilising the region. "Even erstwhile separatists have fallen in line," he observed.

The Minister cited the return of tourism, completion of long-pending infrastructure projects, and greater youth participation across sectors as visible markers of normalcy. "Terrorism and development share a reciprocal relationship," he said, pointing out that projects such as the Ring Road and the Udhampur-Srinagar rail link, once stalled, have now resumed.

Referring to the recently flagged-off Vande Bharat train from Katra to Srinagar, he noted the surge in demand to travel by this train and described it as "a reflection of the people's enthusiasm and optimism."

The Minister's remarks come ahead of the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 and signal the government's continued emphasis on development, integration, and a firm stance on national security in Jammu and Kashmir.

The media observation is that while calls for Statehood persist in political quarters, the Centre appears to be maintaining its calibrated approach-linking timing with ground realities and broader strategic considerations.