Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 19: Lashing out at the forces who are unnecessarily raising the issue of intolerance in the country, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that minorities are more secure in NDA Government led by Narendra Modi.
Addressing a public meeting at Kir Pind in R S Pura today, Dr Singh said that two months after Modi Government came to power a survey was conducted by some independent news agencies which put forth that minorities were never so safe in the country as they are now under the Modi regime.
Without naming the opposition parties, the Union Minister took a dig at the forces, who have raised the issue of intolerance and said a new word has been searched from dictionary by some vested elements to settle the political scores with BJP.
Dr Singh also lashed out at some litterateurs and artists who recently returned their awards saying “a true writer and a true artist will never think of returning an award, but on the other hand, try to live up to the credentials of the award bestowed upon him”. It is for this reason that immediately after independence, a number of eminent writers from minority community came forward to constitute “Progressive Writers Forum” and opposed the partition of Subcontinent”, he added.
He said BJP is truly a secular party as it believes in justice to all and appeasement to none. He wanted to know that is there any thing wrong in this policy?
He said BJP is for the progress of all citizens irrespective of their caste, creed, colour, region and religion.
Dr Singh while exploding the myth that only Congress knows how to rule as the Party is adept in politics and others have no knowledge of the same, said they (Congress) knows nothing except scams.
Dr Singh said the BJP remained in opposition for about four to five decades in the country and the party activists had only learned how to resort to dharnas, demonstrations and protests. “The Party over these years was in total struggle and our workers were always ready to go to jail so every one was saying that they are in opposition and they can’t come to power”, he added.
But BJP has now proved during the six year rule of Vajpayee Government and now during the period of Modi Government that it is the only party which can provide good governance in the country.
Referring towards Centre’s liberal approach towards the State and its development he said when PM visited the State he announced that the coffers of his Government are open for the people of the State. He also showed readiness to provide more assistance in future provided the State Government gives proper account of expenditures.
Dr Singh also urged the State Government to frame a Committee on utilization of the huge Central package so that every region gets its due and no one feels ignored.
Later talking to media persons at the sidelines of function, Dr Singh said that courts in the country are working independently and no body should politicize any issue pertaining to courts. He said the verdict of the courts should be respected and no one should take these issues to Parliament or State Legislatures.
He also denied that the CBI was working under Government pressure and said it is an independent body working without any interference from Union Government.
While referring to the memorandum given by the people of Kir Pind which is mostly inhabited by Labana Sikh community members, Dr Singh appealed the people to take advantage of the welfare schemes announced by Narendra Modi, like Jan Dan Yojna, Atal Pension Yojna, Mudra Yojna etc.
On the occasion, he announced a KV for Kir Pind and asked the people to identify land for the same in consultation with Revenue Department.
He also announced a skill development centre for the village for training people in various skill development programmes. He said that present Government is not for employment but for employability as our policies are aimed at creating employment avenues in the country. He appealed the people to take benefit of all these schemes.
On the growing demand of the people regarding grant of OBC status to Labana community in seeking Central Government jobs, Dr Singh said that he will take up the issue with concerned Ministry at Delhi and hopefully some tangible will materialize in this regard.
On the demand of renovation of local road in the area which is totally damaged, Dr Singh asked the local MLA to get the DPRs framed and he will get the road constructed under Centre Road Fund (CRF) scheme).
He also announced Arogya Gram Yojna scheme for the village and gave instructions to MLA to take up the other demands of the people with State Government like construction of Panchayat Ghar, upgradation of High School and construction of health Centre etc.
Earlier, addressing the gathering Dr Gagan Bhagat MLA RS Pura also accused the Congress leadership which ruled at Centre for decades together for ignoring Jammu. He said during Congress rule at Centre the Ministers were directly visiting Srinagar bypassing Jammu but now every Minster visits Jammu before going to Valley.
He said a new era of development has started in the State after the PDP-BJP coalition assumed office nine months back.
BJP leader S Amrik Singh demanded special status for RS Pura which is the rice bowl of Jammu and producer of world famous Basmati. Others, who spoke included Master Bhupinder Singh, Master Puran Singh and Sarpanch S Ajit Singh.
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