Adil Latif
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Sept 28: Strongly defending his Party’s decision to join hands with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in formation of Coalition Government in the State in 2015, Union Minister of State with independent charge of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan today said that the main objective of joining hands by the two parties was to ameliorate a lot of the people of all three regions of this Himalyan State and take it on the path of development and progress.
Addressing separate functions at Jammu and Srinagar today while launching the Pradhan Mantri’s Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY), the Union Minister took a dig at the statements of NC and Congress leadership who termed the PDP –BJP coalition like joining of North Pole and South pole.
He said “I ask those who betrayed the people of the State during their rule for years together that don’t the people of J&K have any right to progress’’.
He said the main agenda of the formation of the alliance by the two parties was that the State of J&K which is the crown of India should progress.
Pradhan said that BJP is more concerned for the development of J&K and welfare of the people of the State as it is the only party whose leader laid down his life for total integration and unity of this State with India. Maintaining that J&K is integral part of India, he said it will continue to be so for centuries together in future also.
While taking a dig at both Congress and National Conference (NC), he said for opposing the formation of alliance by PDP and BJP, he wanted to know from the leaders of the two parties who ruled the State continuously from 1947 that why Ramban district could not have more than 13 percent gas connections in last 67 years of independence and why Kishtwar, Doda and Ganderbal, the other three districts of the State have only 27 percent, 34 percent and 21 percent gas connections respectively only till date?
“This reveals how much progress the State has made over these years during the rule of NC and Congress”, he added.
Defending the alliance of the two parties Pradhan said that every one in the country is aware of the relations which former Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee had with former Chief Minister of the State, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and when former BJP stalwart declared in Srinagar that Kashmir issue will be settled within the ambit of humanity, the late PDP leader was at that time sitting along with him.
Elaborating, he said one does not like to go far behind as the growth rate in the State in the petroleum and natural gas sectors was low in 2013-14 and previous years also while it increased in BJP-PDP rule to six percent. This shows that how two parties are inclined for the development and progress of the State, he added.
The Union Minister said “we have the perception that J&K should develop and progress but those who were rejected by the masses in previous elections are pained by it”. Without naming NC leader, Omar Abdullah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said the leaders of the two parties are making comments on twitter and while sitting on a ‘Khat’.
He said BJP led Government is more concerned for alleviation of poverty that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently asked Pakistan that both nations should declare a war against poverty.
He assured the State Government that his Ministry will review the SC and ST list for gas connections to ensure that every body is benefitted under PMUY.
Pradhan also accused Congress and National Conference (NC) of creating trust deficit among people in Kashmir.
Taking a dig at NC and Congress who ruled in State and at Centre for majority of the years in the history, the Minister said that they are responsible for the creating trust deficit in Kashmir.
“I won’t say an old talk but for how many years (Abdullah) family took over the responsibility of governance (in Jammu and Kashmir) or in Delhi, the Congress for so many years ran the Government in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, when you talk of trust-deficit in this state (but) who is responsible for that…”? Pradhan, asked.
The Minister accused former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, of running the State through tweets. “Those people who were running this State through tweets. I don’t know how many times they used to appear before people but at times we used to meet at Khan Market. And, rest of the times, we used see them through tweets and by tweeting, they used to criticize and talk”, he said.
Pradhan acknowledged that there are differences between two coalition partners of PDP and BJP but people of the State have given answer to those who betrayed them.“There are differences on some issues between us (PDP and BJP). But have decided that for running Government the people of both regions have given vote for change. The people of this State have answered those people who have betrayed this nation for long in the name of service”, he said.
The Minister said that it was the decision of the people of the State to hand over affairs of the State to Mehbooba Mufti. “We, by believing in democracy, represented people and guided them. In Srinagar or in Kashmir, Mehbooba didn’t get people’s trust due to kindness of someone. It is the decision of State’s people that the Government should be in her hands. This is the peoples’ decision”, he added.
The MoS said that people of Jammu have put their trust on, Prime Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh and Dr Nirmal Singh and now it is the responsibility of the Government to bring change in their lives. “If in Jammu the people have put their trust in Dr Jitendra Singh, Dr Nirmal Singh and on Prime Minister, it were people who trusted them and this time it is our responsibility to change peoples’ lives and bring change there”, he said.
Pradhan said that he desired to come to Srinagar several times but got the chance of coming here on the important occasion of launching of Prime Minister’s Ujjwala Yojana. “I couldn’t come to Srinagar despite expressing desire of coming here several times. But I was not aware that I will come here on this important occasion when Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and other sisters were present here… I had not thought of starting this programme here in this situation and I congratulate you all”, he said.
The Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir is the first mountainous State where the scheme was launched. “Some days ago, (my) friend Zulfikar Ali (J&K Minister for Consumer Affairs) had come and in brief time we held talks. The criteria those days was that the priority will be given to those States who are below national percentage. And, he came up with a message of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, though I will say direction, that Jammu and Kashmir should not be excluded. We at Government of India changed the law and authorized backward and mountainous States and we have started now from Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.
Addressing the functions Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh said that the State Government should create conditions for investment in the State. He said instead of remaining dependent on subsidy always it should create such an atmosphere that J&K will be subsidy giver instead of a subsidy taker.
He said that all credit goes to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti that despite prevailing situation in the Valley, the programme was held and a clear message was given that how unconducive situation could be no one will be allowed to hamper the development and public welfare agenda of the democratic Government.
Dr Singh said three days after the launch year long programme in connection with former Jana Sangh president Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s birth anniversary at Kozikode Kerala by Prime Minister that this programme was launched in J&K today as a welfare measure.
He said in over last two years Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi many welfare schemes and projects were launched for youth, poor and women.
Terming them politically strategic yojnas, he said people should not think they are of BJP or Modi’s Yojnas but for public welfare and every one should come forward to take their advantage.
Maintaining that J&K is always a priority for the BJP Government at Centre, he urged the State Government to send DPRs in time and the funds for the projects will be no constraint.
He said we all have to work together as a new dawn is waiting for the new and prosperous India under the dynamic leadership of Modi.
Dr Jitendra Singh asked people of the State to take full advantage of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes aimed at improving the living standards of the people of the country.
He said, “as far as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, I being a representative of the State and a worker in Prime Minister’s office can say with authenticity that the region along with entire North-East is the biggest priority of this Government.”
Dr Jitendra said since the formation of the PDP-BJP Coalition Government, he himself accompanied five Union Ministers to lay foundation stones of various developmental works in the State in the recent past. “Had such a thing happened in the past?” Singh asked and added: “Likewise, we have started a process in North East as Prime Minister had directed for a visit of eight Ministers to the region after every 15 days so that a message is sent that you need not to come to Delhi with your complaints but Delhi too can reach you.”
Asserting that India is on the path to become the biggest power in the world, the Union Minister asked the people of the State to take full benefits of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes. “Our country which is guiding the entire world to the path of progress and development and the youth is looking for different avenues, our youth (in Jammu and Kashmir) should not lag behind…India is standing on the door to become the biggest power in the world and we need to take full advantage of the opportunities rather than depriving ourselves from the benefits (of Centrally Sponsored Schemes),” Singh said.
Praising Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Dr Jitendra said whatever the situations the promise of development which was made should not be stopped. “Chief Minister is worth praising, whatever the situation, whatever the time, the promise of development which we have made should not be stopped. It is the joint promise of the State and centre Government,” he said.
Reiterating the need for giving rights to poor, the Minister said that onus lies on each one among us, especially the youth who, he said should not deprive themselves from the developmental schemes that Centre keeps on offering for their welfare.
“It is the joint responsibility of the all the people, who are sitting here, or those who are responsible for the prevailing situation. We have no right to deprive any poor of his right,” he said, adding that “depriving the poor of his right means that we have failed in our responsibility.” Lauding Prime Minister Modi and the schemes launched by the centre, he said he has taken up the construction of 1200 toilets personally in the border areas of Jammu region to facilitate women folk.
Addressing the functions Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh said that those who were critical of the PDP and BJP that how they framed the alliance as there is no meeting point between North Pole and South Pole, said that we proved that when there is honest approach and sincerity the North and South pole can join to serve the masses.
He said despite the turmoil, the alliance showed its total commitment towards the developmental progmmes and it did not shift its focus from the same. Asking people to give full support to the alliance, Dr Nirmal Singh announced that every village will be electrified by 2019 end as per our commitment.
He said the alliance is working to fulfill the Prime Minister’s dream that last man in the last queue must be benefitted.
Dr Singh while praising the people of Jammu said that despite many provocations they maintained calm during the present turmoil and extended full support to coalition to thwart the designs of conspirators.
He, while lauding the vision and role of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said that late leader wanted to make Jammu an independent tourist destination and some projects were taken up in hand in this regard while referring to Mubarak Mandi, Ranjit Sagar Dam and Tawi lake to be developed as tourist spots in Jammu.
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