Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 1: Making a scathing attack on opposition parties for selective condemnation of abduction and killings, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent Charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said Kashmir apologists lacked courage and conviction to condemn abduction and killings by terrorists.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of launching of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) here at General Zorawar Singh Stadium, University of Jammu this afternoon, Dr Jitendra Singh said that instead of condemning abduction by terrorists, the Kashmir apologists are condemning security forces who are doing a yeoman’s service to the nation and making apologetic statements on behalf of terrorists.
Turning tables on such leaders, the Union Minister said “selective condemnation of violence and Human Rights violations is to serve and promote their own vested interests at the cost of nation and camouflage their acts of omission and commission”. “In the process they are harming the nation”, he added.
He said the trend of abducting the relatives of policemen or security forces is worrisome but Government has strategy to handle it.
Supporting holding of Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections in the State, Dr Jitendra Singh said the grass root democracy without these elections is totally incomplete and in this context “we all should support the holding of ULB and Panchayat elections. The Narendra Modi Government is committed to provide grass root democracy in the country”.
Reiterating that the money will be brought back that has been illegally and unconstitutionally bundled and hoarded by some tycoons, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi made the commitment with the nation on the first day he took over as PM that the money which has been pilfered or stolen will be brought back and used for the country and poorest of the poor. In this regard the PM has taken series of measures during last four years including today’s launching, he added.
In this regard, he said “we don’t need to name them (Choksi, Mallya etc) but law will equally apply to all of them”.
Earlier, Dr Jitendra Singh launched India Post Payments Bank (IPPB). The launch was a part of the launch of IPPBs across the country that was aimed at reaching the unbanked population of the country through utilization of the postal network for banking services. Member Parliament, Lok Sabha (Jammu-Poonch), Jugal Kishore Sharma was also present on the occasion.
Reiterating the commitment of the Government towards financial inclusion, Dr. Singh said that launch of IPPBs was an unprecedented step of the Union Government to empower the rural masses by providing banking facilities in the far-flung areas of the country. He further said that the revolutionary step would ensure that the benefits of development reach the people of the entire nation at the grass root level.
Dr Singh said that the same technology that had made post offices obsolete would mark the revival of these post offices through the Postal Payment Banks. While highlighting the critical role that the Postman or the ‘Dakiya’ would be playing in the functioning of IPPBs, Dr Singh said that the Postman would become the ‘new bank’. The Postman would become the new digital teachers for unprivileged and unbanked section of society marking the transformation to a new Digital India.
The Union Minister said that the developmental agenda occupied a central place for the Government where the focus was not just on rhetoric but on pragmatic programmes and practical implementation of schemes. Dr Singh also mentioned that special attention was being given by Narendra Modi led Government at the Centre by ensuring that parallel developmental measures were being taken in the State as that in the rest of the country.
Giving all credit to PM for launching the public welfare schemes, he said “when we see towards the schemes launched by Narendra Modi we stand vindicated as on the first day when he took over his office on May 26 2014, he said his Government is dedicated to the poor of poorest people of this country”.
Dr Jtiendra Singh said during his tenure he lunched one after another scheme for betterment of the nation and upliftment of the poor people which included Jan Dhan, Mudra, Ujwala, Start Up India to fulfill the dream of Jan Sangh president Late Deen Dayal Upadyaya that last man in the last queue should be benefitted otherwise Swaraj is incomplete.
Dr Jitendra Singh said 35 core people opened accounts under Jan Dhan Yojna and Rs 65000 crores were deposited in these accounts. There is no such example of such Yojnas any where in the world, he added.
“It was with the policies and programmes of PM that India has moved from a nation of tax evaders to nation of tax payers” he said, adding “unless you don’t change your economic behavior you can’t be a disciplined nation”.
In his address MP, Jugal Kishore Sharma said that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has taken many steps for the development of the country during last four years which no Government has done so far. He sought full cooperation of the people of building India of Modi’s dreams so that the benefits of democracy reach to the last man in the last queue.
Arrangements were made at the function to see the live telecast of the National Launch of IPPBs by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at a ceremony at New Delhi.
In his address Post Master General J&K, Devtoru Chatterjee said that in Jammu and Kashmir State eight branches of India Post Payment Banks located at Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Srinagar, Anantnag Baramulla and Leh started their operations from today along with 40 access points. The Postal Payment banks would not only provide the banking facilities but also financial services in remote and rural areas of the country. These banks are technology driven yet having a simple interface. Process like opening a bank account, access to insurance and mutual funds , money transfers, etc., have been simplified and time taken has been reduced greatly. IPPB includes paperless banking and provides secure Aadhaar enable transactions with zero balance accounts facility, he added.
He said Banking through IPPBs would boost to Government’s initiatives like promoting digital transactions and Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) and will help in better penetration of Government schemes like Sukanya Samridhi Yojna.
In his welcome address Director Postal Services, Gaurav Srivastav said the State launch was a part of the simultaneous launch of IPPB across the country at various locations in which a total of 650 branches and 3,250 access points were launched. By the year end all the 1.55 lakh post offices across the country will start serving as the India Post Payments Bank Access taking banking services to the remotest corners of the country. Nearly three lakh postmen will work as ‘Mobile Bankers’ and provide facility of ‘banking at your doorstep- aapka bank aapke dwar, he added’.
He said the inclusion of the unbanked population in the banking network through IPPB will empower individuals who will be able to open bank accounts in less than a minute but, have access to financial services and can avail of Government schemes in an improved and assured way. It would also boost India’s GDP and increase the flow of cash in the economy.
The vote of thanks was proposed by J R Angural, Senior Superintendent Post Offices.
The function among others was attended by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Sanjeev Varma, VC Jammu University, Dr Manoj Dhar and DC Jammu Ramesh Kumar.
The India Post Payments Bank was also launched at Kathua. The function was held at Head Post Office Kathua which among others was attended by MLA, Kathua Rajeev Jasrotia, DC Kathua, Rohit Khajuria, SSP Kathua Shridhar Patil and Superintendent of Postal Department, Subash Chander.
At Udhampur, the main function was held at Head Post Office, Udhampur which was among others attended by MLA Udhampur, Pawan Gupta, DDC, Ravinder Kumar, SSP Rayees Mohamed Bhat, Superintendent Head Post Office, Udhampur, Javed Ahmed Haji, Assistant Superintendent Head Quarter, Vijay Kumar and large number of people.
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