“Since then, the lives of the people of J&K and Ladakh have witnessed wide-ranging transformation. Infrastructure has expanded, opportunities in areas such as education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and sports have grown,” the Prime Minister said. Modi said this year’s anniversary assumes added significance as the country is commemorating the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He said India remained committed to building “a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir, a thriving Ladakh and a Viksit Bharat”. The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its special status under Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and bifurcated into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.