Union Minister inaugurates Naropa festival in Ladakh
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/LEH, Sept 16: Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Anurag Thakur today said that Government is thinking to extend the date for filing up of Income Tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns in view of the problems being faced by people in J&K due to closure of Internet facilities.
The Union Minister who was on way to Leh during a stopover at Jammu visited BJP headquarters this morning and held a meeting with senior functionaries of the party. He discussed various issues concerning State aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A and reorganization of J&K.
Briefing the reporters later, Anurag Thakur said that he is familiar that the people of J&K especially the traders and industrialists are facing problems in filing their returns due to the ban of Internet services in the State and the issue was also brought in his notice by party leaders today.
He assured all possible steps will be taken to ease the problem of the people on this account and officers will also be issued directives in this regard.
Thakur said that construction of International Cricket Stadium at Jammu was in the pipeline and proposal for the same was also finalized by the Government but the J&K Cricket Association sabotaged it. But now the sanction would be accorded to construction of Cricket Stadium in Jammu, he added.
The Union Minister, while terming the abrogation of Article 370 a bold and historical decision of Narendra Modi led Government, recalled that in 2011 when BJYM decided to take Tiranga yatra to Kashmir under his leadership they were not allowed to enter Kashmir and arrested at Lakhanpur and other parts of Punjab. But with the abrogation of Article 370 there would be no such curbs and any Indian can hoist the National Flag any where in Kashmir.
Maintaining that not only J&K but PoJK is also an integral part of India, he said the nation is committed to joint Parliament resolution of 1994 regarding freeing PoJK from clutches of Pakistan. Thakur, while taking a strong dig at Congress asked it to clear its stand on PoJK.
The Union Minister, while taking Pakistan and its Premier, Imran Khan to task said with the abrogation of 370 and 35 A, Pakistan is frightened and in grave shock. They tried to internationalize the issue but were totally isolated in the world. There is total unrest in PoJK and they are fed up with atrocities and undemocratic acts of Pakistani Government and want to become part of India, he added.
He said even after the abrogation of Article 370 there is “junoon” (craze) among the people of India to liberate the PoJK.
Thakur said that India wants to live in peace with Pakistan but it is the neighboring country whose actions are inimical to peace.
Earlier addressing BJP senior leaders meeting, he blamed Congress for terrorism in J&K. Thakur alleged that Congress is answerable to 40,000 deaths in J&K over the years and party must apologize for those countless souls who were killed in the State due to the bad decisions taken by the party leaders from time to time.
The BJP leaders who were present in the meeting included party State president, Ravinder Raina, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, BJP State general secretary (Org.) Ashok Koul, State general secretary, Yudhvir Sethi, Mayor, JMC, Chander Mohan Gupta, former Dy. CM, Kavinder Gupta, and other senior party leaders.
BJP State vice-president, Pawan Khajuria, Pramod Kapahi, State secretary, Sanjay Baru, Pawan Sharma, Ajay Pargal, Praduman Singh, Parbhat Singh, Sanjay Khanna, Adv. Parimoksh Seth, Hari Om Sharma, Gorav Pargal and others also welcomed Anurag Thakur by offering bouquets, Mata Ki Chunri.
Anurag Thakur said Modi Government is concerned for the development of J&K as a whole and private sector will be given impetus for employment generation as many business houses are keen to invest here.
Thakur alleged that J&K State has received much funds from the Centre in the past, but still there was lack of development. He said that this was utter mismanagement of funds as well bungling along with the partiality going on in the State for decades together, but this is going to end now.
Earlier, Ravinder Raina, welcomed the Union Minister and said that he has stood as an icon figure amongst the top youth leaders of nation who are always ahead with the innovative steps.
Later Anurag Thakur inaugurated five day long Naropa festival 2019 at Naropa Photang Hemes which commenced with religious fervor and gaiety today. This year, the Naropa Festival is being celebrated with a Central theme of environmental sustainability of Ladakh and the Himalayan region.
Anurag Thakur who was the chief guest also hoisted the National Flag to officially commence the celebration of UT Status for Ladakh region.
Speaking on the occasion Thakur said that the national festival is the “Kumbh of the Himalayas”. A beautiful celebration of tradition and culture, that brings together the whole region and tourists from across the world. Set against the majestic mountains of Ladakh, this festival rejoices the life of the famous Buddhist philosopher and teacher -Naropa.
He also congratulates the people of this beautiful land for entering the Ginness Book of world records for the world’s largest Ladakhi dance performance, where 299 Ladakhi women gracefully performed the famous dance of “Shondol” during the Naropa celebration.
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