Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Apr 13: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and sought inclusion of Srinagar and Jammu among smart cities besides allocation of an additional over four lakh metric tonnes of foodgrains to the state.
Mehbooba and Modi discussed the overall political and developmental scenario of Jammu and Kashmir, a State Government spokesperson said in a statement.
This was Mehbooba’s first meeting with the Prime Minister since she became Chief Minister of the restive State.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues concerning the State.
She urged Modi to favourably consider including the two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu as smart cities under the ‘Smart Cities Mission’, the statement said.
The Chief Minister requested for allocation of an additional 4.30 lakh metric tonnes foodgrains to the State over and above what is targeted under the public distribution system as part of the National Food Security Act, it said.
She also sought Prime Minister’s intervention in expediting the Centre’s nod for continuation of special dispensation of 50 per cent in promotion quota in All India Services—Indian Administra-tive Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service—for state service officers for another five years, beyond December 31, 2013.
This would help the State in meeting the shortage of IAS, IPS and IFS officers.
Governor N N Vohra had in Fabruary sought an urgent decision regarding extension of the special dispensation to provide 50 per cent promotion quota for induction into all-India services for five years beyond December 31, 2013 in the three services. This special dispensation provides for 50 per cent quota for promotion to these services compared to 33.3 per cent in other States.
“The Prime Minister assured the Chief Minister of Centre’s full support in the holistic development of J&K State,” the statement said.
During the meeting described as a courtesy call, Mehbooba, who assumed charge of the PDP-BJP Government on April 4, informed the Prime Minister about her meetings with various Cabinet Ministers since yesterday including with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, official sources said.
She also sought assistance from the Centre for implementing the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ formulated by the two parties last year.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister sought to dispel reports about any animosity between local and outstation students at NIT and said her Government will ensure security of all students studying in the Valley.
“They are our children. These are our children. It is our job to provide them security. I am confident they will come back, Kashmir is their home,” Mehbooba said.
“These students have been living there for years. We can’t separate people over an incident. I am hopeful they will come back,” she said.
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who separately met Mehbooba, said the Chief Minister demanded that Jammu and Srinagar cities be included in smart cities project.
“I have told her that it’s under consideration,” he said.
Naidu said during the talks, the issue of National institute of Technology (NIT) students also cropped up and the Chief Minister said every step will be taken to ensure that students are provided safety and security.
Naidu also said that the issue of NIT was not between local and outstation students. “We should try to assure students from other parts of nation studying in Srinagar that they will have a peaceful stay,” he said.
Mehbooba said both capital cities Srinagar and Jammu should be included in the Smart Cities Mission besides including the forward town of Kargil under the ambit of AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation).
Presently, Leh town is being covered under the Centrally-sponsored scheme.
She sought “liberal financial assistance” from the Ministry so that it benefits from various Central Government schemes, which will help the State overcome challenges in solid waste management.
Mehbooba also met Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, here this afternoon.
The Chief Minister discussed with Swaraj the measures required for broadening the scope of cross-LoC trade and travel in J&K so as to make it more vibrant.
Cross-LoC trade & travel, she said was close to the heart of her late father and former Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who often described it as the biggest CBM between India and Pakistan.
She proposed opening of new routes across the LoC for better connectivity, which she said will take people-to-people contact beyond the ritual of meetings between divided families.
The increase in Haj quota in respect of J&K State, keeping in view the large number of applications received for annual pilgrimage this year, was also discussed in the meeting between the two leaders.
Mehbooba took up the issue of lowering the tariff on Srinagar Embarkation Point for Haj flights, which is higher in comparison to other embarkation points in the country.
J&K this year has been allotted total Haj quota of 6,395 including special additional quota of 1,500. The State Haj Committee has received a whopping 32,298 applications this year, including 6,914 under the Reserved Category, in which those who are over 70 years of age and fourth-time applicants are given first preference.
The External Affairs Minister assured early positive action on the issues raised by the Chief Minister.
Mehbooba met the Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley here last evening.
The Chief Minister discussed with the Finance Minister the need for creating a separate window for Prime Minister’s Development Package to speed up flow of resources to the state. She also requested early release of Rs 880 crore in this month for interest subvention, Rs 2,000 crore for damaged infrastructure approved by NITI Aayog and another Rs.2000 crore for displaced persons in Jammu so that disbursement of compensation can commence.
Jaitley assured the Chief Minister of early action in the matter adding Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Ratan Wattal, has been appointed as the coordinator for smooth implementation of Prime Minister’s Development Package. He will maintain close liaison with the State Finance Minister, Dr. Haseeb Drabu, so that the flow of funds to the State is fast-tracked.
Keeping in view the RBI nod for dollar-denominated trade for cross-LoC transactions, the Chief Minister underlined the need for replacing the present barter system with banking system so that the cross-LoC Trade at Salamabad (in Baramulla) and Chakan da Bagh (in Poonch) is taken to a higher level. She also sought Jaitley’s intervention in inclusion of additional items in the approved list for which the matter has to be vigorously pursued in the next meeting of the Joint Working Group between India and Pakistan.
Mehbooba Mufti also demanded a new Central Industrial Policy for J&K as the one in vogue will expire on June 17 this year. She called for extension of exemptions on income tax and concession of insurance premiums to J&K entrepreneurs, on the analogy of industrial package available to the North-Eastern States.
The Union Finance Minister assured Mehbooba Mufti, as regards the issues raised, early positive consideration by his Ministry.
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