‘Terror in J&K related to infiltration’
NEW DELHI, Jan 29: President Ram Nath Kovind today said that the Government was ready for a dialogue with anyone who shunned violence and reposed faith in the Constitution.
In his maiden address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind also said terrorist violence in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir is directly related to cross- border infiltration.
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“With better coordination, our Army, Paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police are giving a befitting response to the perpetrators,” he said.
The President said security situation in Naxal-affected areas and insurgency-hit Northeastern States has improved significantly.
“My Government has kept open the path of dialogue with those who wish to shun violence and join the mainstream, while reposing faith in the Constitution of India,” he said.
The Centre has already appointed a representative, Dineshwar Sharma, to hold dialogue with all stake holders in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kovind said due to regular efforts of the Central and State Governments, there has been a significant improvement in internal security of the country.
“The Northeast has also witnessed an improvement in the security situation. There has been a reduction in incidents of Naxal-Maoist violence. For this, the enlightened citizens of the region, our military, paramilitary and police forces deserve to be congratulated,” he said.
The President said in the past three years, maximum number of youth influenced by the Naxal-Maoist ideology, have surrendered and joined the main stream.
Paying heartfelt tribute to the martyrs of the security forces, he said the Government has also recently sanctioned a scheme of more than Rs 18,000 crore for the modernisation of police forces.
The armed forces have been giving a befitting response to the perpetrators of terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir, Kovind said and asserted that the Government was open to holding talks with those wishing to shun violence and join the mainstream.
He also said that terrorist violence in the interiors of Jammu and Kashmir was directly related to cross- border infiltration.
Talking about the strategic partnership model in the defence manufacturing sector, he said it has been given a final shape.
“This will encourage maximum participation of private sector in the manufacture of major defence platforms and equipment and would provide a fillip to employment generation,” the President said.
In his address, the President also talked about the implementation of the ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme for retired personnel of the three services.
“My Government has fulfilled its commitment of ‘One Rank One Pension’ and disbursed arrears of more than Rs.10 thousand crore to over 20 lakh retired armed forces personnel,” he said.
Raising the election pitch, Kovind gave a call to build a political consensus on simultaneous elections to State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha.
The President unfurled the government’s vision of a New India giving detailed account of the Government’s schemes and initiatives including introduction of the Bill on Triple Talaq and Amendment Bill to accord Constitutional Status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.
He said the policies of the NDA Government were guided by the principle that political democracy could not survive without “social and economic democracy”.
His observations, made in his joint address to both Houses of Parliament before the commencement of the Budget session, were met with thunderous applause from ruling party benches.
Mr Kovind emphasized that the Government was committed to “empowerment and not appeasement” of minorities. To the thumping of desks, he said India had secured representation in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, International Maritime Organization and Economic and Social Council and in a keenly contested election to the International Court of Justice, India emerged victorious.
Besides, the country had tremendously improved its World Bank ranking in Ease of Doing Business.
Giving a call for achieving the ideals of equality and fraternity enshrined in the Constitution, the President said the dream of a New India did not belong to one political party or organization.
It is an embodiment of the aspirations and expectations of 130 crore citizens. The endeavour of the Government towards strengthening economic and social democracy was helping redefine national life.
These efforts were establishing a new social order in the country, he said. “Perhaps no one had imagined that construction of toilets could also contribute towards social justice. Construction of toilets not only protects their dignity but also fosters a feeling of social justice in women.
The movement for social justice is becoming widespread day by day, ”he said. The President informed members that the ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ had empowered over 3.30 crore poor women enjoy equal rights with their privileged counterparts by replacing fuel chullahs with gas stoves, addressing an ignored aspect of social justice.
Women had especially benefitted with the percentage of Savings Bank accounts held by them going up to more than 40 per cent from the earlier 28 per cent. Under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana’, about 10 crore loans have been sanctioned so far and more than Rs. 4 lakh crore worth of loans disbursed, he added.
“Keeping in mind the objective of womens’ empowerment, for the first time since independence, the restriction on women above 45 years of age to perform Haj pilgrimage unaccompanied by their male relatives has been removed.
This year, more than 1300 women are going on Haj pilgrimage without Mehram,” he said.
Turning to benefits for over 2.5 crore Divyangjans, he said the Government had amended to provide 4 per cent reservation in Government jobs and 5 per cent reservation in higher education for them.
Mr Kovind touched upon the various schemes of the Government in rural housing, healthcare, education, sports and skill development.
He said the cultural heritage was a part of India’s identity and provided the foundation for ‘Ek Bharat- Shreshtra Bharat’.
“It is a matter of pride for us that recently Kumbh Mela was included in the list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’. Last year, UNESCO has accorded Ahmedabad the status of India’s first ‘Heritage City’. Chennai, on account of its glorious tradition of music, has been included in the list of Creative Cities by UNESCO.”
He said, “For the first time in the world, 104 Satellites were launched successfully at one go by ISRO. In June 2017, the first developmental flight of India’s GSLV MK-III was successfully launched which marked an important step in taking forward the launch capability of the country.
“Last year ISRO launched the South Asian Satellite which demonstrated India’s commitment towards sharing benefits of its technical capabilities with neighbouring countries.
This year on 12th January, ISRO made the country proud by successfully launching the PSLV-C40. On this day, ISRO also scored a century of satellites launched.”
Under ‘One Nation, One Grid, schemes worth Rs. 1.5 lakh crore had been implemented to strengthen the power distribution network in all villages and towns of the country. The work of electrifying 18 thousand villages is also nearing completion.
“Nation building is a continuous process in which each citizen of the country has a role to play. It is our responsibility to exhibit exemplary conduct before the nation. The completion of time bound goals towards Nation Building is our collective responsibility,” he said. (UNI)
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