Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 8: Making a scathing attack on Congress, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern Region, Dr Jitendra Singh held it responsible for the present Kashmir situation, saying “we are reaping what has been sown by successive Congress Governments at the Centre and in the State for last 65 years of its misrule”.
Talking to reporters here, today on the sidelines of a function organized by J&K Red Cross in connection with celebration of annual Red Cross Day, Dr Jitendra Singh said “we are reaping the cumulative effect of Nehruvian blunders and wrong policies of successive Congress Governments both at the Centre and in the State”.
Dr Singh, while replying to a question on the statement of former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader, P Chidambaram that alienation in Kashmir is because PDP and BJP is in coalition in the State and if Mehbooba Mufti is interested in restoring peace in the Valley she should come out from coalition, said the present situation in Kashmir is creation of Congress itself which right from 1947 pursued wrong policies regarding the J&K.
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On increasing stone pelting incidents in Valley and killing of a tourist of Chennai yesterday, Dr Jitendra Singh said attack on tourists is in no way in the interests of people of Kashmir valley. “If tourists are harmed it in turn will mar the interests of Kashmiri masses itself”, he added.
The Union Minister however said that the common masses in Kashmir especially the youth have seen through the game plan of the separatist leaders and they fully understand that this thuggery of these vested interests will not be allowed now who have send their own children to safer places and green pastures for leading a happy and healthy life and have put the stones and bullets in the hands of poor children.
“There is total awakening in Kashmir Valley now”, he said, adding “the people understand that the interests of the common masses in valley are being deliberately harmed by these vested interests”.
He said there is a lot of change in Kashmir on ground as many youth from Valley have come with flying colours in Civil Services examinations as well as in IIT exams. Some of them have even been toppers, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh further said that those who instigate the innocent youth for stone pelting are not the well wishers of Kashmiris. “The so called protagonists of Azadi who have been rejected by the masses, this way want to create disturbances in the Valley for their own interests”, he added.
Lavishing praises on security forces for their yeoman’s services to nation, he said entire nation even Kashmiris should be indebted to Army. Lashing out at those leaders who criticize the role of security forces, the Union Minister without naming any one said those pointing fingers on Army if really are sincere should give up their own security first. By targeting security forces they are deceiving the people as well as nation, he added.
On killing of a University Professor turned terrorist in an encounter with security forces two days back in Valley, Dr Jitendra Singh said a terrorist is a terrorist whether he is teacher or a professor by profession as he is slated to meet the same fate which a terrorist has to meet.
The Union Minister, while reiterating his stand on Rassana issue said that the guilty should be punished while no innocent should be harmed at any cost. He, however, said that it is for those to judge whether they will contest the case of innocents in the judiciary or on streets. He also maintained that the CBI demand is not any opposition but it is a part of democracy and it State Government recommends the same Centre has no hesitation in ordering the CBI probe.
In response to a question that whether the amnesty to stone pelters should be withdrawn or not in view of increasing stone pelting incidents in Valley, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the State Government has to take a decision in this regard.
He said Prime Minister visited North East for 30 times in last four years and he spent first Diwali in Kashmir after 2014 floods to share the pain and agony of flood victims of Valley.
On ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the Union Minister said that Pakistan has been habitual of misadventures right from 1947 and “it is not the question what Pakistan is doing but what we are doing in retaliation”.
Earlier addressing the Red Cross function, the Union Minister rejected that discrimination with Jammu region still exists. He said there is no such base in these allegations leveled by some fringe elements and organizations for their vested interests.
He disclosed that under PMGSY this year out of Rs 3800 crore sanctioned for the State, Rs 2100 crore were earmarked for Jammu region alone and out of that 1700 crore were kept for Kathua, Doda Parliamentary Constituency. Last year also major share in PMGSY was given to Jammu region, he added.
He said earlier the Reasi migrants were given relief at par with Kashmiri migrants. This showed how sensitive Prime Minister is towards the Jammu. He said it is a golden opportunity for people of Jammu to take advantage of schemes and projects this time.
Eulogizing the role of Red Cross, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the agenda of Red Cross and other organizations associated with it are being carried by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team also. PM and his team is working for 24 hours a day. Narendra Modi has totally surrendered to the nation and he is concerned for the welfare of those who are in pain and agony, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while highlighting various welfare schemes launched by PM said Jan Dhan, Ayushman Bharat and other schemes were launched by Narendra Modi with the same purpose that if a poor falls ill these schemes will take care of him.
He said it was because of PM Modi that people regained faith in politics which otherwise they have lost as soon after taking over as PM of this country he said that “we are not here to run the Government but to run the nation”.
Had this not been so, the decision of demonetization should have not been taken by Modi Government prior to crucial UP elections and people fully backed him, he said, adding these all decisions were based on honesty and Government created trust of people in political system of the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh who rewarded some towering personalities of Jammu on behalf of J&K Red Cross said “in rewarding them we have rewarded ourselves”. He said Red Cross is such an organization which has been recognized all over the Globe and its activities are going all over world.
He said Indian culture teaches us to be good human beings and if we can’t adopt these basic principles in day today life the fault does not lie in us and our culture but the atmosphere has been polluted. “So it is the Red Cross and like organizations which guide us at such juncture and remind us our services as human beings”, he added.
He, however, said that mushrooming of new civil societies daily harm the cause of those organizations which are really wedded to service of humanity.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Hemant Kumar, DC Jammu Rajiv Ranjan and Secretary Red Cross Danish Ji also spoke on the occasion.
The students of various schools presented colourful items on the occasion which were highly applauded by the audience.
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