Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Aug 27: Calling for psychological emancipation of Jammu, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today cautioned against looking into each and every local issue through the prism of Kashmir.
“Consciously or unconsciously, we have developed the tendency of looking through the prism of Kashmir to all our issue and this is a mistake we have been committing and repeating for the last several decades,” he said while addressing a gathering of Jammu civil society and prominent citizens, here today.
Stressing the need for course correction, the Union Minister of State in PMO and Incharge North-Eastern States, said that there should be clarity and self awareness on the issues to be raised. “Some vested interest people used to take benefit of our ignorance for rejecting even most genuine issues and defeating our purpose,” he said while referring to the opposition by some Valley based parties to 73rd and 74th Amendments to Panchayati Raj and GST etc.
As some speakers earlier alleged that turmoil in Kashmir valley was intentionally triggered during the Amarnath Yatra for sabotaging the pilgrimage, Dr Jitendra Singh suggested Jammu people to press for the holy pilgrimage to south Kashmir throughout the year. “Why not Amarnath Yatra can be carried out throughout the year since Geological Survey of India has also said that weather conditions are suitable to conduct the pilgrimage from the month of May to September every year and moreover there are historical evidences which suggest that former Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru had performed this pilgrimage within 15 days after his marriage in the month of February on the suggestion of a priest,” he informed.
“Even as visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine during the Navratra is considered very pious but that does not mean that this yatra should be conducted only during this particular period and similarly pilgrimage to Amarnath Ji shrine during Shravan month has special significance but there should be no restriction on the yatra during rest of the period,” he elaborated.
Pointing out some alleged lacunas in Baba Amarnath Shrine Board as well as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Dr Jitendra Singh asked Jammu people to raise the demand for revamping these Boards by including locals as the members who could play more effective role in development of these shrines. “At the time SMVDS Board was constituted by then Governor Jagmohan, there was no popular Government in the State and hence bureaucrats and others were taken as members. But this practice is still being carried out by ignoring locals and people should raise such issue for ensuring participation of Jammu,” he said.
Assuring that interests of Jammu would never be compromised, Dr Jitendra Singh, who represented Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency, said that Modi Government was giving equal treatment to all regions of the State. “I would rather say that we have not only three but four regions, including PoK and our objective is to restore J&K to its original and erstwhile format by taking back the occupied territory,” he said amidst cheers by the audience.
Accusing Pakistan of promoting terrorism in Kashmir, the Union Minister ruled out a dialogue with the neighbouring country and said that the Government can’t talk to perpetrators of terrorism.
“I think we are very clear that it is mischief perpetuated promoted and sponsored by Pakistan and India is out to defeat this design,” he said in response to quarries by the media persons, on sidelines of the programme,
Dr Singh further warned that if Pakistan continues to remain in denial mode, the harm would come to Pakistan itself because the perpetrators of terrorism cannot escape the effects of terror for long.
Hoping the unrest in the Valley will end soon, Dr Singh backed the security forces and said the Government has full faith in them and their actions. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said time and again that there can’t be any compromise on terrorism but no harm should come to any innocent person, particularly children and youth,” he added.
Special interaction programme with the Union Minister was organized by Jammu Province People’s Forum, an amalgam of more than 60 organizations of different shades of Jammu province.
President of Jammu Bar Association, Abhinav Sharma, president of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Rakesh Gupta and representatives of various prominent organizations took part in the programme.
Those who spoke on the occasion, included M S Katoch, Inderjeet Khajuria, Neeraj Anand, Piran Ditta, Fida Hussain, Uday Chand, Vinod Kohli and others.
Rakesh Gupta warned that any talks with separatists Hurriyat Conference would have its strong reaction in Jammu. He also appealed the Government of India to reject the claim of losses of Kashmiri traders due to the ongoing bandh in Valley as the same was not enforced on them.
Judge (Retd) Paviter Singh, chairman of JPPF, in his brief address, pinned hopes on Dr Jitendra Singh for justice to Jammu region.
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