Nishikant Khajuria
REASI, July 10: Terming recent developments with regard to rolling out Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Jammu and Kashmir as an acid test for the PDP-BJP Government , Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said that implementation of the new tax regime in the State was in conformity with Agenda of Alliance between the ruling coalition partners.
Addressing a public meeting, here today, after inaugurating newly constructed building of the Government Polytechnic Reasi, she stressed that her Government honoured contradictory sentiments of Kashmir traders and Jammu traders like her father Mufti Mohd Sayeed did for development of the State by formulating an Agenda of Alliance in 2014 when people in Valley had voted for PDP and Jammu for BJP, two ideologies opponent political parties.
“Jammu traders wanted GST implementation with continuation of tax exemptions and subsidies while in Kashmir there was a voice that GST will erode special status of the State, its separate Constitution and Assembly, but I am happy that our both partners (PDP and BJP) in mutual consent kept all these aspects in consideration and honoured sentiments of both the regions in conformity with Agenda of Alliance,” she said.
Referring about the difficulties faced in passage and implementation of GST, Mehbooba Mufti said that it was an acid test for her Government, which was, however, successfully passed with the cooperation of coalition partner BJP.
“It can’t be imagined how crucial and big test it was for us but the way our coalition partner cooperated, it turned out to be a big success for us,” she said while recalling how BJP helped in getting approval of Government of India, Prime Minister and President while ensuring that special status of Jammu and Kashmir is not disturbed.
Recalling her visits to Mata Vaishno Devi during her college days in Jammu, the Chief Minister stressed the need for further developing pilgrimage tourism in the State. “We have historic temples in Reasi and other areas in the State, where additional infrastructure needs to be created for attracting more visitors and prolonging their stay here,” she said and admitted that the due attention was not given in this regard so far.
Also terming Technical Education as the future hope for youth in terms of employability and job avenues, Chief Minister said tourism and skill development are the two areas of economy which hold a definite promise of job avenues for the youth. Sensing this, she said, her Government has given technical education a thrust and a network of ITIs and Polytechnic are being set up across the State to prepare a skilled workforce for coming times.
On the occasion, Mehbooba Mufti went round various sections of the Polytechnic and interacted with the faculty. The Polytechnic College comprises 16 laboratories, four workshops and two drawing halls. The college would be having an intake capacity of 120 students and it has come up at a cost of Rs 12 crore.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated Polytechnic Colleges of similar specifications at Kathua and Samba through online mode. She also laid the foundation of Polytechnic Colleges at Doda, Kishtwar and Udhampur through online mode.
Responding to the local demands, the Chief Minister said, she was well aware about the developmental needs of the people of the area. She announced that the old hospital in the town would be well equipped in terms of human resource and equipment so that people continue to get benefit from it. She also announced that the local Sulah Park would be developed and properly maintained.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation of an indoor stadium at Reasi. To be built at a cost of Rs 4 crore, the stadium would have facilities for playing all indoor games like badminton, basketball, table tennis, athletics etc. The Chief Minister directed completion of the stadium within a year so that the local youth can benefit from the facility at the earliest.
In his address, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh said the present Government has laid a network of Polytechnics and it is to impart technical education to young people. Through this network, he hoped, the local and traditional trades in the State are preserved and revived. He said the present Government truly represents the unity of aspirations of people of all regions of the State.
Minister for Technical Education, Youth Services & Sports, Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari, while speaking on the occasion, said the Chief Minister has directed to construct an indoor stadium in every district of the State. He said his Department is planning to introduce vocational training exclusive for women soon.
Minister of State for Technical Education, Priya Sethi and Minister of State for Finance & Planning, Ajay Nanda, also spoke on the occasion.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Mandeep Bhandari; Secretary, Technical Education, Sanjeev Verma; IGP, Jammu zone, S D Singh Jamwal; Secretary, Youth Services & Sports, Hilal Parray; several heads of Department, officers of district administration and a large number of people were present on the occasion.
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