‘UT citizens should also live in peace like other parts of India’
Terror has come to an end, people now have equal rights
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 24: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said today that Jammu and Kashmir people have equal rights over the country like people of any other State and declared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government wants to make such J&K where no life is lost due to terrorism.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
He said this while interacting with Jammu and Kashmir youngsters who had come to New Delhi under `Watan Ko Jano (Know Your Nation)’ youth exchange programme.
Click here to watch video
“Narendra Modi Government wants to make a Jammu and Kashmir where no life is lost due to terrorism. There is peace in the UT and this peace has to be permanent,” Shah said in his address. He said that responsibility of creating such a J&K lies with the children and youth.
Noting that due to decades of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, 38,000 people have lost their lives, the Home Minister said violence brings nothing. He called upon the youngsters to give message to their family members, friends and neighbours on return to the Valley that entire country is living in peace and the people of Jammu and Kashmir should also live in peace.
“And when there is peace in Jammu and Kashmir, no police will be required. When terrorism comes to an end, there will be no deployment of police. And that day is not far,” the Home Minister, who was accompanied by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Tapan Deka, said.
He said no Government can maintain peace in Jammu and Kashmir but only children can do so. The day is not far when there will be no weapons in anyone’s hands and there will be no need for police or army with weapons, he added.
He said peace is most important for everyone and, under the Modi Government, peace and development have come to Jammu and Kashmir. Hospitals, roads and bridges have been constructed and infrastructure has been generated, he added.
Shah said terrorism has come to an end in Jammu and Kashmir during past 10 years with incidents of blasts and stone pelting over and schools opening regularly.
“Earlier, there was no theatre and none could go to watch a movie. The ‘Tazia’ processions were not taken previously but now all these things are taking place,” he added.
Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the country equal for all by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution of India granting special status to erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said J&K people have equal rights anywhere in India like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi or Rajasthan.
“Entire country is yours just like Jammu and Kashmir. You have rights not only over J&K but have equal rights over 29 other States of the country,” he told the youngsters saying entirety of India looked at the people of J&K with love and respect because peace is prevalent there and development is taking place.
The Home Minister asserted that there are 30 states in the country and Jammu and Kashmir is one of them. “Together, all these 30 states become India”.
“Our country is our home. If you don’t step out of Jammu and Kashmir, you will not be able to know the country. So, don’t you think that you should visit and know the country well? In your next school vacation, you must visit any of the States along with your parents. If required, have a fight at home but you must visit one of the States,” Shah said.
He said elections were held for Local Bodies and 36,000 people elected as Panch and Sarpanch. All these have happened in the past 10 years, he added.
“When the country will progress, you will progress too. As much as the country progresses, becomes modern, you will also become prosperous. This is what Prime Minister Modi is doing,” he said.
The world’s tallest railway bridge is now located in Jammu and Kashmir, Asia’s longest tunnel is located in the Union Territory. It is the only place with two AIIMS and two IIMs, Shah said.
Twenty-four colleges, eight universities have been established in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 10 years, he said.
Shah also asked the youngsters not to leave their studies midway as there were many opportunities available to them throughout the country due to initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi Government.
During the interaction, Shah described the ‘WatanKo Jano’ program as an initiative to deepen the understanding of our country. He saidthat our country is our home and just as we are familiar with every part of our home,we should also know our country in the same way.
Shah said that this vision ledthe Government of India to launch the ‘Watan Ko Jano’ program.
Shah underlined that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, significant efforts have been made over the past decade to make Indiaprosperous, modern, and a global leader. He expressed confidence that in the future,students from around the world will come to India for education. As India advances,it will naturally drive progress for all. Home Minister emphasized that a moreprosperous, modern, and developed India will bring benefits to everyone.
Two hundred fifty children from weaker sections of Jammu and Kashmir including 62 girls and 188 boys in the age group of 9-18 years visited Jaipur, Ajmer and Delhi under ‘the programme organized by Social Welfare Department of J&K in coordination with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
During their exposure trip, started on 15 February, the children visited many important andhistoric places in Jaipur and Ajmer. They reached Delhi on 23 February to meet dignitaries and to visit Qutub Minar, Red Fort and other important places in the national capital. The children will return to Jammu & Kashmir on 27 February.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Government of Jammu and Kashmir have been conducting Youth Exchange programme. The main objective of the programme is toexpose the youth and children of Jammu and Kashmir to vibrant development and social and cultural diversity of India so that they can feel socially, culturally and emotionally integrated with rest of the country. The programme is expected to have positive impact on the thinking of the youth.
Under the leadership of Narendra Modi and guidance of Amit Shah, the MHA is committed to such initiatives for development and progress of youth and children of Jammu and Kashmir. ‘Watan KoJano’ programme in one such initiative through which, children of terrorism affected families and/or weaker sections of society in Jammu and Kashmir identified by J&K Rehabilitation Council are taken for exposure trip.
The youth and children are mainly selected from the various orphanages in the districts of J&K. Preference is given to children from terrorism affected families, destitute children and children from weaker sections. The other criterion for selection apart from socio economic background, is proficiency in education, sports and cultural activities. So far, about 2868 youth/children have participated in ‘Watan Ko Jano’ programme, an official statement said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
