Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 6: Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, today urged the intellectuals of the country to rise to the occasion and unite the society instead of becoming part of a trend which seeks to divide it.
When asked about returning of awards by artistes over “growing intolerance” in the country, Dr Singh during a press conference here ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the State, urged the intellectuals of the country to play their role in uniting the society than dividing it. “It is my considered belief that the intellectual class of this country including the writers, poets and artists carry on their shoulders a very rich legacy of a tradition which expects them to work for uniting the society instead of willingly or unwillingly becoming a part of a trend which seeks to divide the society,” he said.
Dr Singh said that there are striking examples of a uniting role played by the intellectuals of the country in the past. “I would just like some of the youngsters to be reminded that in 1947, in the aftermath of the partition when there were communal riots all over the sub-continent and there was a huge communal frenzy, a group of writers came forward to constitute what came to be known as Progressive Writers Forum and consisted of some of the most famous names of that time”, he said.
The Union Minister said that National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will carry forward the peace process and development started by the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. ”…And we hope, the holistic process of peace and development which the former NDA government under the leadership of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was started and didn’t possibly get the kind of attention during 10 years of UPA government, will be carried forward earnestly by the present government.”
Dr Singh appealed people to take part in the rally in large numbers, listen to Prime Minister as he is committed to the holistic development of all the three regions of the State. “I appeal to the people of the State to come to the rally and listen to the Prime Minister who is committed to the equitable development of all the three regions – Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The present Government envisage to make Jammu and Kashmir State including Kashmir a part of holistic development process”, he said.
Dr Singh said that Modi is resolved to make Jammu and Kashmir part of fast track developmental journey which he started soon after taking over as Prime Minister. “He also celebrated Diwali here last year and it was a historic occasion. Usually, people spend Diwali at home but he chose to celebrate it with the flood victims. You can understand the kind of priority the Prime Minister accords to the State and kind of resolve of the Modi led Government to make Jammu and Kashmir, a part of fast track development journey which was initiated by the PM soon after he took oath as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. The entire country is moving ahead on developmental plank and Jammu and Kashmir is also part of the journey towards India becoming world power”, he added.
The Union Minister said that Prime Minister has visited several times to Kashmir and also announced liberal financial assistance. “Before this, Prime Minister has been here last year during floods within two days of floods he was here. He repeatedly came here to visit this place and permanently kept some of us camping here in order to be by the side of the flood victims. Each time, liberal financial assistance was announced by him”, he said.
When asked about opposition allegations regarding crowds being managed by the Government for Srinagar rally, the Union Minister said that PM is crowd puller wherever he goes. “Prime Minister attracts huge crowds not only inside the country but outside as well and it becomes undigestable to some people. Like for example, when he was traveling to US, it was said that crowds have been airlifted from India and now they will say crowds have been airlifted from Tamil to Kashmir valley. These things happen. I would like you to recall when Prime Minister was here for the election rally, when there was no Government support due to code of conduct, there also he was successful in attracting crowds”, he added.
Dr Singh said that PM attracts crowds throughout the country and binds people in a single cord. “I am glad in that Prime Minister whether he is in Kashmir or Kanyakumari, he attracts the crowds and binds them in single cord despite of huge heterogeneity in this country”, he added.
The Union Minister played down the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) march in Jammu last month and said that it is a practice that has been going on since 1925. “This is a kind of an annual practice, it is a kind of a drill that happens every year on Dussehra day since 1925”, he added.
On Prime Minister’s visit to the State, Dr Singh said: “He will be here at 11:30 a.m. and then after the rally will start at 12. After that between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. he will leave for Chanderkoot. We have a programme there and it will go from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.”
“The rally in Srinagar will be more of a public programme. He will have the opportunity to address the people of Valley for the first time since the coalition government led by PDP and BJP took over”, Union Minister said.
Dr Singh said: “In Chanderkote as you know second phase of Baglihar is going to be inaugurated. And with that happening a long pending demand of electricity in the region would be addressed. At the same time next phase of four lanning of the Jammu Srinagar Highway is also being launched by the Prime Minister. It will not only shorten the distance between two capital cities but will make the journey more comfortable. It will also reduce travel time on the highway which will give great boost to tourism, industry and all other areas.”
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