Discriminatory law against women legacy of Cong, NC: Dr Jitendra

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 3: Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today alleged that discriminatory law against women in the State is legacy of Congress and National Conference (NC), who ruled the State as well as Centre for 67 long years.
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Talking to media persons on the sidelines of e-foundation laying for PMGSY roads, with 975.50 km length and costing Rs 650 cr in his Kathua, Udhampur and Doda Parliamentary constituency, Dr Jitendra Singh, said that he didn’t want to engage in a debate over Article 35 A because the matter was subjudice, but without naming any body, he outrightly refuted the allegation of NC president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah that BJP was being discriminatory against women in handling the court case.
While turning tables on both NC and Congress, he said the fact of the matter is that discriminatory law against women is a legacy of erstwhile Congress-NC regime in the State and they are responsible for denial of rights to daughters of the State.
“If the daughters of the State don’t get their rights, it is the blunder of those politicians, who ruled the State as well as Centre for 67 years”, he said, adding these leaders had vested interests in denying the rights to daughters of the State in the same way as they are opposing the Triple Talaq law brought by Narendra Modi Government to give justice to women all over the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh, in response to a question regarding regrouping of militants in the Kashmir Valley as more and more youth are joining the terrorists ranks, said that Kashmiri youth are mature enough, aspirational and of strong will, who fully realize that their future will be well secured in Modi’s concept of New India. The Kashmiri youth want to be the part of the developmental plank started by Modi Government and they don’t want to lag behind the youth in other parts of the country, he added.
He, while denying that Kashmiri youth are joining the militants’ ranks, said that during last some years they came as toppers in competitive examinations of Civil Services, NEET and IIT and they will not be misled by those politicians or separatists who are trying to exploit them for their vested interests. Highlighting the Modi Government’s Kashmir policy, Dr Jitendra Singh said it is based on clarity and consistency.
He said it is the result of Narendra Modi’s policy that its heat has been felt by terrorists and “anti-India forces” working across the border during last four years and they realized that for their every misadventure they will be given a befitting reply. “So far as combating terrorism is concerned there will be no compromise on this front by Modi Government,” he added.
He said it is the result of the same policy that during last year, 150 militants were liquidated and this heat was never witnessed before on borders.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while lauding the role of Army, said it is doing a yeoman’s service to nation and the nation is indebted to them for their sacrifices. Maintaining that Narendra Modi’s policy is paying dividends, he said you will see that youth of Kashmir will give lead to rest of the country in building new India.
On US cancelling USD 300 mn military aid to Pakistan, Dr Jitendra Singh said that those countries who were not considering India’s views regarding Pak being hand in glove in promoting terrorism on its soil, have now realized the reality.
Earlier while addressing the main function after laying foundation of roads, Dr Jitendra Singh took serious exception to slow pace of construction of roads under PMGSY in the State. He said while it is 10 km as national average, there can’t be any logic in constructing three km road per day in J&K in comparison to seven km per day average fixed in the State.
He said forest clearance and compensation problems as ascribed by the officers are departmental problems and they should be sorted out on a administrative level.
He also took exception to laying of foundation stones by other politicians and changing name plates after the foundations stones are laid by legislators and said that officers should ensure that such practice doesn’t occur in future. The issue was raised by Congress MLA Aijaz Ahmed Khan who alleged that the name plates of foundations stones are changed by other politicians and there is no check on it.
However, Dr Jitendra Singh termed it a total slackness on the part of the administration and concerned officers and asked them to ensure that such practice is not repeated in future.
The road projects whose e-foundation was laid today Rs 628.09 cr construction and Rs 21.9 cr maintenance cost.
To be constructed under 110 schemes across Dr Jitendra Singh’s home Parliamentary constituency Doda-Udhampur-Kathua, these roads will strengthen the rural connectivity in Billawar, Basohli, Kishtwar, Reasi, Doda, Inderwal, Gool-Arnas, Banihal, Udhampur, Ramanagr, Chenani-Ghordi, Bani, Gulabgarh, Bhaderwah and Ramban.
Legislators Ajay Nanda, R S Pathania, Ajaz Ahmad Khan and Neelam Langeh besides Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Sanjeev Varma, Chief Engineer, PMGSY (JKRRDA) Jammu, S P Manhas, Chief Engineer, PWD, Sudheer Shah along with senior functionaries of concerned departments were present on the occasion.
In his address, Dr Jitendra Singh called for coordinated efforts by all stakeholders towards achieving the common goal of development.
He said that the Prime Minister is sensitive towards J&K and the Government of India is striking a perfect balance through equitable distribution of development works and funds. “Liberal funding has been made for the deserving areas,” he added.
Dr Singh said that he has been shouldered with dual responsibilities of North Eastern Region and his Parliamentary constituency and both are facing same issues of topography, connectivity and communication and resolute efforts are being made to resolve them.
He asked the concerned functionaries and the executing agencies to adopt the work culture for not holding up the developmental works for the formal inaugural ceremonies and directed for taking up the left-over areas.
Highlighting several ongoing development projects in his constituency, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that in Kathua, out of 12 bridges constructed by BRO, six bridges will be dedicated to the people by March 2019.
Hydro Electric projects in Kishtwar will make entire region power surplus, he said, adding that development of Sanasar road was approved under CRF. He further informed that the Radio Station in Udhampur will start functioning by December.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that around Rs 1 cr worth roads were constructed in Basohli and work on toilet complex near Atal Setu Bridge has been initiated and food stalls will be developed soon for the convenience of the tourists.
Dr Jitendra Singh also sought a detailed report on the progress made under PMGSY and asked the concerned functionaries to speed up the pace and entrusted upon the officers to increase the per day average target length. He directed for time bound completion of the all the works taken up under PMGSY besides maintaining quality standards.
The Chief Engineer PMGSY informed that the target of 1000 km length roads upto Phase-IX is set for completion by the end of this year.
The MLAs also informed Dr Jitendra Singh about the PMGSY roads facing issues like forest clearance and compensations in their respective constituencies. While discussing the issues pertaining to BRO, CRF and NABARD roads, Dr Jitendra Singh asked the Divisional Commissioner to conduct a meeting with the concerned functionaries to review BRO roads and further assured the MLAs that all their genuine concerns will be taken up.

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