‘Yatra successful, youth getting jobs, economy has doubled’
*Pak continues to send infiltrators, many operations are on
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 31: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said the local recruitment into terrorist ranks has drastically fallen in Jammu and Kashmir and as against 100-150 youths who used to join outfits every year, now there has been just one recruitment this year while no Pakistani calendars are issued for hartals and instead academic calendars are released.
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In an interview to a national magazine, published today, Sinha charged Pakistan with using terror as state policy but said India, on the other hand, is fourth largest economy in the world and is striving to become a developed country.
“Last year, there were six to seven local recruitments in the terror cadre but this year there has been just one. Previously, there used to be 100-150 local recruitments every year. This is a clear indication that people have started trusting peace and development,” the Lieutenant Governor said, adding he believed this is a historic shift.
Asserting that the neighbor (a reference towards Pakistan) continues to send infiltrators, he said, security forces are on alert and there have been many successful operations against the terrorists while many operations are ongoing.
There has been excellent coordination among Army, police and paramilitary forces, he added.
The Lieutenant Governor said that Pakistani calendar on hartals and strikes are not enforced now. “Only academic calendars are issued. Annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji is successful. Youth are getting jobs and share aspirations of developed India. Economy has doubled”.
On completion of his five years as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said there has been huge transformation in Jammu and Kashmir during last 5-6 years with unprecedented growth, transparency, accountability and doubling of the economy. Jammu and Kashmir Bank which was running at a loss of Rs 1139 crore, now has a profit of Rs 1700 crore.
“Distance from Jammu to Srinagar has been reduced to 4.5 hours as against 8.5 hours earlier. Rs 1.5 crore worth highway and tunnel projects are on. Many premier institutions in health and education sectors like IIT, IIM, NIFT, AIIMS and Medical Colleges have come up. Power generation is being added tremendously. Private investments have gone up manifold with Rs 12,000 cr worth investment on ground and around Rs 30,000 crore in the pipeline. As many as 1146 Government services are being delivered online. Across all sectors, our approach has been peace, prosperity, progress and people-first,” he said.
On Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Sinha said the Government had made commitment in the Parliament that after delimitation and Assembly elections, Statehood will be restored.
“The assurance was given in the Parliament and it will be honoured. However, the word used was appropriate time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also reiterated the assurance in Srinagar last year and we must wait for the right time (for restoration of Statehood),” he added.
The Lieutenant Governor said Pakistan has been using terrorism as a state policy and it is not bothered whether its citizens have basic living conditions or are surviving on loans taken from other countries. However, India is the fourth largest economy and is striving to become a developed country.
Responding to a question on Omar Abdullah’s statement that his position has been downgraded from Chief Minister of State to CM of Union Territory, he said when Omar contested the Assembly elections he knew that it was a UT.
“Omar willingly participated in the elections and won. It was obvious that when he becomes the Chief Minister, he will be CM of a UT,” he said.
Sinha, however, said that he had cordial relations with the Chief Minister and often meets with him at conferences and other occasions. He added that powers of both are also clearly defined under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act.
On the allegation of former Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti about selective targeting of the Government employees who have been removed from services for their links with the terrorists, the LG said action has been taken under Article 311 and is not community or religion-based.
“Most of the sacked employees have a past or active terror record. Many are in jail. No action will be taken against any innocent person,” he said.
Sinha categorically refuted charges that dissenting voices are being silenced in Jammu and Kashmir saying the political parties are freely doing their work. They freely participated in the Assembly elections last year with campaigning running till late in the night. The MLAs are also doing their job as usual. Democracy is very much alive in Jammu and Kashmir, he asserted.
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