Amit Shah says, 'Maybe Kashmir is named after sage Kashyap'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that it could be possible that Kashmir is named after sage Kashyap, a revered figure in Hinduism.

Speaking during the release of the book, J&K and Ladakh Through the Ages, in Delhi, he said, "We all know that Kashmir is known as the land of Kashyap. It is possible that Kashmir has been named after sage Kashyap."

"Jammu and Kashmir has contributed significantly to the development of India. We will achieve the cultural glory of Kashmir," he added.

The Union Home Minister said India is the only country where there are cultural boundaries and not geopolitical boundaries.

He said that the references to Shankaracharya,



the Silk Route, and Hemish Matha in Kashmir show that it is connected to Indian culture.

He also said that the mentions of temples destroyed in Ladakh and the use of Sanskrit in Kashmir showed that the Valley has "an unbreakable bond" with India.

Shah also criticised Article 370 and Article 35 A of the Constitution, which granted special privileges to Jammu and Kashmir, and said the provisions "prevented the country from being united".

"There was no majority in the Constituent Assembly on these provisions, which is why they were made temporary at the time. These tainted provisions were removed by the Narendra Modi-led government, paving the way for development in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.