Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on August 8 at 8pm.
Catch the LIVE updates of the prime minister's address, speech here.
During the address, PM Modi is expected to explain government's decisions on abrogating special status to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and splitting the state into two union territories.
The Prime Minister's Office on Twitter confirmed the timings of the address. The post read, "Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi will be addressing the nation at 8 PM today."
The last time he addressed the nation was on March 27 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections when he announced that India had demonstrated anti-satellite missile (A-Sat) capability by shooting down a live satellite.
Parliament, on August 6, approved a resolution abrogating special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution. It also cleared a bill to split the state into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature) and Ladakh. Both the decisions have gotten the President's nod.
The proposed address comes days before the prime minister's customary address to the nation on Independence Day on August 15 from the ramparts of the Red Fort, in New Delhi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauds PM Modi's address, appeals people to come together for J&K's growth
PM Narendra Modihas urged the people of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh, especially youth, to be a part of this historic journey and walk together for a greater cause. A peaceful and prosperous J&K and Ladakh is what every Indian wants.
The people of J&K and Ladakh have always been betrayed and deprived of development in the name of Article 370 by those who ruled the state for the past seven decades.But now by the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modihas put an end to this injustice.
Right to Education, Minimum Wages Act, Minority Act, social reservation for the disempowered, corruption-free governance, development of J&K and Ladakh is the least that people of these regions, which should have been their right, will get after this historic decision of PM Modi.
Key takeaways from PM Modi's first address after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir :
# Union Territory status for Jammu and Kashmir temporary
# Ladakh will continue to be a Union territory
# Elections to be held in J&K soon
# All government vacancies in J&K to be filled
# Film shoots to return to the Valley
#Dynastic politics will end in Kashmir
PM Modi:
The decision (of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution as well as the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir) will help in the economic development of the entire country, along with the development of J&K and Ladakh.
PM Modi:
I thank the companies of security forces deployed for the security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The people associated with the administration, state employees; the manner in which the Jammu and Kashmir Police is handling the situation is praiseworthy, your hard work has further enhanced my belief that change can happen.
PM Modi:
The government is taking care that people should not have any problem in celebrating Eid in Jammu and Kashmir. Our companions who live outside Jammu and Kashmir and want to return to their homes on Eid, the government is helping them in all possible ways.
PM Modi:
I assure the colleagues of Jammu and Kashmir that gradually the situation will become normal and their troubles will also get reduced. The festival of Eidis also close. The government is taking due steps that the people of Jammu and Kashmir can celebrate the festival without any trouble.
PM Modi:
We should also not forget that the patriotic people of Jammu and Kashmir have stood firmly against the Pakistani conspiracies to promote terrorism and separatism.
PM Modi:
I also want to say to every countryman that the concern of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, we are all concerned, their happiness, sorrow and their suffering are no different from us.
PM Modi:
But I urge them to treat national interest as paramount and help the government in giving a new direction to Jammu and Kashmir-Ladakh. Beyond who voted, who did not vote in Parliament, now we have to work together, unitedly in the interest of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
PM Modi:
It is also very natural in a democracy that some people are in favor of this decision and some have differences over it. I respect their differences as well as their objections. The central government is also responding to the debate on it. This is our democratic responsibility.
PM Modi:
Irrespective of who supported the resolution to scrap Article 370 provisions, and who opposed them in Parliament, we need to accept that the resolution is a reality. We should work towards the growth and development of the state.
PM Modi:
As Ladakh is now a Union Territory (UT), its development is now the Centre's responsibility.
PM Modi:
Whether it is the color of saffron in Jammu and Kashmir or the taste of kahva (herbal tea), the sweetness of apples or the succulence of apricots, Kashmiri shawls or artworks, the organic products of Ladakh or herbal medicine, it needs to be spread worldwide.
PM Modi:
There was a time when every Bollywood movie used to be shot in Kashmir. I am sure when the situation is normal, the entire world will come to shoot films there.
PM Modi:
I urge the Hindi, Telugu and Tamil film industries and associated people to think about filming in J&K
PM Modi:
Decades of dynasty politics did not give the youth of Jammu and Kashmir an opportunity to lead. Now, my youth will lead the development of Jammu and Kashmir and take it to new heights. I would urge the youth, the sisters and daughters of the place, to take charge of the development of their own area.
PM Modi:
J&K has the potential to become the world's largest tourist destination
PM Modi:
I am confident that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will achieve their goals with renewed vigour in an environment of good governance and transparency
PM Modi:
I am confident that after the removal of Article 370, when these Panchayat members get a chance to work in the new system, they will do wonders. I am confident that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will defeat separatism and move forward with new hopes
PM Modi:
As the panchayat elections were conducted with transparency, so will the assembly elections. I would also urge the Governor of the state that the formation of the Block Development Council, which has been pending for the last two-three decades, should also be completed at the earliest
PM Modi:
We all want the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections to be held in the coming time –a new government, a new Chief Minister. I assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that you will have the opportunity to choose your representatives in a completely transparent environment with a lot of honesty from here on.
PM Modi:
In my experience, 4-5 months ago, during the Panchayat elections those who were elected, are doing a great job. They deserve our praise
PM Modi:
I would like to assure the people of J&K that you will get elect your government very soon.
PM Modi:
I do not think we will need to continue the arrangement of UT in J&K, but it will continue to be so in Ladakh.
PM Modi:
When the 'heaven on earth' –J&K –will attract investments from the entire world, ease of living will increase for the citizens of the state.
PM Modi:
I want to clear one thing to the people of J&K, your representative will be elected by you. Just as MLAs were elected before, in future also, MLAs will be elected by people. There will be representatives of the people, elected from amongst the people.Just as there used to be a Cabinet, there will be a Cabinet in the future as well.
PM Modi:
Our country's democracy is very strong, but you will be surprised to know that in J&K for decades, thousands and lakhs of people did not get to vote during the Assembly and local elections, nor did they get the opportunity to contest these elections.These are the people who came to India from Pakistan after Partition. Will injustice continue with these people like this?
PM Modi:
We have tried to bring a new work culture, transparency in Jammu and Kashmir administration. The result of this is that IITs, IIMs, AIIMS are being set up;be it irrigation projects, power projects, or the Anti-Corruption Bureau, their work has accelerated.
PM Modi:
Soon, the process of filling the vacant posts of central and state in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be started. This will provide employment opportunities to the local youth. Centre's public sector units and private sector companies will also be encouraged to provide jobs.
PM Modi:
Those schemes which were only on paper before, are now being implemented under the President's rule and the Governor's rule. Projects, which have been stalled for decades, are now being implemented
PM Modi:
In the new system, it will be the priority of the central government that the employees of the state, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, get equal facilities as the employees of the other Union Territories and the police there
PM Modi:
After the abrogation of Article 370, the laws which are made for the betterment of the country, will be applicable to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as well.
PM Modi:
The Safai Karamchari Act is applicable to the sweepers in other states of the country, but the sweepers of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of it. Strict laws are in place to prevent atrocities on Dalits in other states of the country, but this was not the case in Jammu and Kashmir
PM Modi:
Imagine, children have the right to education in all the other states. But the children of J&K were not, what is their crime?
The rights that women and childrenenjoy in all other states, women and children in J&K did not get those rights.
PM Modi:
The Parliament of the country used to formulate so many laws that helped the country grow. But those laws were never enacted in Jammu and Kashmir.
PM Modi:
Article 370only helped terrorism and corruption grow unabated.
PM Modi:
Pakistan used Article 370 as a weapon. Due to this, in the past three decades, almost 42,000 innocent people had to lose their life. This number brings tears to the eyes of many.
PM Modi:
There was no discussion on Article 370, that hampered the lives and development of the entire state of J&K.
PM Modi:
I want to congratulate tell the people of J&K and Ladakh and every citizen.Now, citizens of India have the same rights and the same duties.
PM Modi:
This decision has removed all obstacles in the road of development for the people in Ladakh and Jammu Kashmir.
PM Modi:
The entire country has taken a historic decision.The dream that Sardar Patel saw, Baba Saheb Ambedkar saw, Syama Prasad Mookerjee saw and Atalji saw, that dream has been fulfilled.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modito address the nation shortly. He is expected to talk on the recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir.
For LIVE updates on developments on Jammu and Kashmir, click here.
Please note:
After the Centre's resolution to scrap provisions of Article 370 and bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories, Pakistan had cried foul saying that any decision regarding Kashmir should be bilateral. On August 7, Pakistan had even said that it will suspend all bilateral trade with Indiaand downgrade diplomatic ties.
The agenda of PM Modi's address is still is not clear. However, media reports have suggested that he will talk on the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Amit Shah
Union Home Minister , had on August 5, proposed to scrap Article 370 provisions, that grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He had also proposed that the state be bifurcated into two Union Territories – J&K (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).
Both the proposals have been approved by the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha. President Ram Nath Kovind has given a nod to both, making the proposals effectively immediately.
Please note: The agenda of PM Modi's address is still is not clear. However, media reports have suggested that he will talk on the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The address will comedays before the prime minister's customary address to the nation on Independence Day on August 15 from the ramparts of Red Fort.
PM Modi to address nation at 8 pm
It is unclear as to what the prime minister's address would be about. However, reports havesuggested that PM Modi is expected to talk aboutCentre's decision to revoke Article 370 provisions and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) into two Union Territories –J&K and Ladakh.
The address will be a television broadcast.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on August 8 at 8.00 pm, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has said. This blog will bring to you LIVE updates from his address. Staytuned in.
