‘It suffered development deficit due to terror’
Pak encouraging terrorism to damage India
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 23: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said Jammu and Kashmir has suffered development deficit due to terror and cross-border militancy and has spoiled the prospects of an entire generation of bright local youth and, without naming Pakistan, charged the neighbouring country with encouraging terrorism to damage our country.
Addressing the students from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the two newly created Union Territories after bifurcation of the erstwhile State of J&K at Uprashtrapati Bhawan in the Union capital this morning, Naidu said abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India (which granted special status to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir) must be seen as the redemption of Jammu and Kashmir on the path of progress.
“Jammu and Kashmir region has suffered development deficit due to terrorism for decades and cross border militancy has spoiled the prospects of an entire generation of bright local youth. We cannot let this happen,” Naidu said in a series of tweets.
Asserting that abrogation of Article 370 must be seen as the redemption of Jammu and Kashmir on the path of progress, the Vice President said it was a temporary provision that had long outlived its utility and it’s abrogation was essential to fast-track progress of the region.
Describing terrorism as biggest enemy of the humanity, Naidu said the terrorist has no religion.
Without naming Pakistan, he said our neighbour with a view to damage our country has been encouraging terrorism. “Peace is must for progress. With stress, you can’t focus on progress,” he added.
Saying that Jammu and Kashmir is crown of India, Naidu said it is blessed by nature with snow capped mountains, lush green valleys and pristine streams. Kashmir, he added, has always been known for the friendly nature of its people, their sublime spiritual tradition, the exquisite cuisines, attires, culture and music.
Naidu said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and there is no question of any compromise on that.
“We are trying to resolve the dispute on PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) issue with the neighbour,” Naidu said during the interaction with students.
He said a “neighbour” was continuously trying to disturb peace and deliberately creating trouble in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, by “abetting, aiding, funding and training terrorists”.
But India continues to believe in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), Naidu said.
Jammu and Kashmir “is an integral part of India and there is no question of any compromise” on the issue, he said.
On the PoK issue, the Vice President said, “We have to address those issues and that is what we are trying to do”.
“India does not want to have a disturbed relationship with anybody including Pakistan. India does not believe in war and wants to live peacefully and have a good relationship with Pakistan too,” Naidu said.
He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to have healthy and peaceful relationships with the country’s neighbours, and referred to the invitations extended to the heads of States of neighbouring countries when he was sworn in as PM in May 2014.
Modi also visited Pakistan around four years back following an invitation by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for a family event of the Pakistan leader, Naidu said.
While India believes in democracy and continues to hold periodic elections to Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and Local Bodies “our neighbour has no democracy”, he said.
Sustaining democracy and holding elections “is the beauty of India and that is the beautiful way to govern ourselves,” he said.
“Recent changes in the structure of Jammu and Kashmir are intended to extend all the benefits which other Indians have been enjoying all this. I am confident that Jammu and Kashmir will make rapid progress and be able to focus on development and people’s welfare much more than earlier in the coming months and years,” he said.
Naidu commended the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles for arranging the 10-day visit of children from Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh to Delhi and Agra.
“I believe that your visit to Delhi will be a memorable one and you will get to see the rapid changes taking place in the country and the new opportunities that will emerge from these changes”, he told the students.
The students were accompanied by two teachers, Rashtriya Rifles Major Jasneet Singh and Military Nursing Service Captain Anjal Preet Kaur.
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