‘SC deadline of Sept on Assembly polls will be met’
*PoJK people too want PM to take care of them
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 10: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today said large crowds turned up to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar during his rally on March 7 because of his unprecedented popularity among the people as he has changed their lives in Jammu and Kashmir during last 4-5 years.
He once again assured people of the country that the Supreme Court deadline for holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir before September 30 will be met but made it clear that announcement of dates for the elections is the job of the Election Commission of India.
In an interview with Aaj Tak news channel, Sinha while responding to a question on the allegations of Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti about “sponsored crowd” in the Prime Minister’s rally, said the people wanted to come to the meeting because of the PM’s unprecedented popularity among the people and none was forced to attend the rally.
“The Bakshi Stadium was packed to capacity. Extra chairs were added. Adjacent Indoor Stadium and SKICC were also full. Nearly 10,000 people listened to the PM from outside the Stadium while 8000 couldn’t make it to the venue. I apologized to the people who were unable to find a space. Besides, the programme was streamed live at 285 blocks, towns etc and people watched at large screens,” he said, adding the people wanted to listen to Narendra Modi as he changed their lives during last 4-5 years.
He said people are living their lives peacefully in Kashmir which was once called as conflict zone.
Sinha said those who live in Kashmir agree that the Prime Minister has given new ray of hope to them.
“Earlier, youth used to lose sight in pellet guns. Many lives were lost in violence. Young women became widows. All this has ended in five years which is major achievement of the Government,” he said.
Replying to a question on conduct of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor once again assured people of the country that the Supreme Court direction on the elections will be implemented by the UT administration 100 percent.
However, he said, there is a Constitutional provision that dates for the elections have to be announced by the Election Commission of India.
“Those who know the Constitution know very well that it is the job of the Election Commission of India to finalize dates for the elections. As far as the administration is concerned, it will implement the Supreme Court direction on ground,” Sinha said.
Asserting that he has nothing to do with politics as he is holding the Constitutional post, he assured free, fair and transparent Parliamentary polls in Jammu and Kashmir due to be held in April-May.
Sinha said not only the people of Jammu and Kashmir but the residents of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are praising development in the UT and are asking the Prime Ministers and the LG to take care of them.
“Those who have seen PoJK know that there are no roads, electricity, hospitals etc. People fight for rice and flour. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, people get free medicines in health centres. They have been given Rs 5 lakh free treatment. There are roads, schools. People in PoJK request the Prime Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to take care of them,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said he won’t claim that corruption has been completely eradicated but definitely J&K presents best model of good governance and transparency where no work is executed without tenders.
“We have succeeded to gain people’s confidence,” he said adding it is now priority of the Government to boost economy and capital expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lieutenant Governor said besides Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, the Government focus is now on new tourist destinations across Jammu and Kashmir which are attracting the people. He recalled that last year, 2.12 crore people visited the UT while the number was 1.88 lakh in 2022.
On industrial investments, he said total investments in Jammu and Kashmir after independence were to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore while after introduction of new Industrial Development Scheme, the UT has received Rs 90,000 crore worth investment proposals. Of them, around Rs 17,000 cr to Rs 18,000 cr proposals are on ground, he added.
“Industrialists have been coming to Jammu and Kashmir from across the country,” he said.
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