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Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 14: Turning down the demand of inviting stakeholders for talks on Kashmir, Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that the youth of the State who constitute 65 percent of its population, Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs, Hindus and others are the basic stakeholders to the issue.
Talking to reporters here on the sidelines of a function organized by SBI in connection with giving special letters to beneficiaries under Mudra Yojna, Dr Jitendra Singh said that four to five so called and self styled separatist leaders can’t be stakeholders of the Kashmir issue.
“These are the youth of the State who constitute 65 percent of its population, Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs, Hindus and other minorities who are its main stakeholders and not the four or five so called leaders who have been rejected by the masses”, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said these so called leaders have been rejected by the Kashmiris and it is high time that country’s intellectuals should also ignore them now. He said the youth of Kashmir want to be the part of the country wide developmental programme launched by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and all of us should join hands to built the New India of Modi’s dreams.
“Let us make a beginning and start a new journey in this direction from today”, he added.
He said the Kashmiri youth are fed up with the present turmoil and they want to join the national mainstream, which can be gauged from the fact that 66000 candidates have applied for the 7000 posts of Sub Inspectors in J&K Police. There can be no other proof that the youth of Kashmir crave for normalcy and want to be part of the developmental agenda initiated by Modi Government, he added.
He said the so-called separatist leaders have been exposed as youth of Kashmir have seen through their game plan now. “They (separatists) send their own children in search of green pastures outside the Valley and abroad and ask the children of poor people to become stone pelters. But the Kashmiri youth have now rejected this duplicity of the separatist leadership”, he added.
These leaders should avoid this type of duplicity, Dr Singh said, adding Kashmir being a sensitive place having majority of people belonging to Islamic religion and they are being used by certain forces who involve them in such activities. But Kashmir draws inspiration from centuries old composite culture, sufism, holy Quran as well as Vedas so the forces trying to use them for their vested interests will never succeed in their designs, he added.
In response to a question on repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Defence Minister has already made it clear that what action needed will be taken to give a befitting reply to Pakistan. “It has become evident that never before such retaliation was done as is done at present”, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while responding to another question assured that no such thing will happen under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with which the self esteem of countrymen will be hit.
The Union Minister made it clear that regardless of what happens at borders or in Kashmir, the things are going to be change for better soon. “Every body knows that Pakistan has been indulging in misadventures for last 70 years and it has not happened for the first time but the neighboring country has been given a befitting reply and will also be given in future”, he added.
Responding to another question on statement of former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah that India should lay example by declaring unilateral ceasefire on borders first, he said “let you wait for some days and let Dr Abdullah enter the Parliament, he will say Kashmir is integral part of India and Pakistan has no locus -standi on it”.
On the plight of border people who are facing problems on account of Pakistan shelling, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also concerned about them and adequate steps for their safety and security are being taken. The bunkers are being constructed along LoC and work on them is on.
Regarding the row over the action of Forest Minister Lal Singh, who stopped the construction work of road in Bani evoking a public resentment, Dr Jitendra Singh expressed the hope that the State Government will take the cognizance of the matter.
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