*Rajnath approves demand for UT status to Ladakh
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 20: In first blistering attack on National Conference, PDP and Congress in the ongoing election campaign, BJP president Amit Shah today declared that if voted to power the BJP would prove the misappropriation of funds worth thousands of crores of rupees in Jammu and Kashmir and hold the guilty responsible. He declared that Mission 44+ is not just a slogan given by the BJP but the party was determined to complete the mission and form first ever majority Government to make Jammu and Kashmir a model State and give equal treatment to all three regions including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Addressing huge public rallies in Ramban and Banihal Assembly segments in favour of BJP candidates Neelam Langeh and Showkat Daing respectively, Shah, who was on two days tour of the State, said the rule of two families of NC and PDP, which was backed by the Congress, has destroyed the State and there was no development in the State. He called upon people of the State to handover future of Jammu and Kashmir to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP and then see how faster the State is developed.
In another massive rally at Polo Ground in Leh, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the BJP fully approved demand of the people of Leh for Union Territory status but can’t make an announcement in view of imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) due to elections. He declared that Modi Government will not tolerate any threatening postures of India’s neighbours including Pakistan and China and give befitting reply to any misadventure while making it clear that the Centre stands for peace with all its neighbours.
Amit Shah in his first election rally in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections attended by large crowd at Ramban and Banihal this afternoon made a scathing attack on `family raj’ of NC and PDP saying the two party rule in the State during past 60 to 65 years have looted the State and that the BJP after coming to power will order a probe as to where the funds worth thousands of crores have gone which the Centre had given to Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Jammu and Kashmir has lowest population but was given funds worth `Arabs and Kharbs’ during past over six decades by the Centre, which have been embezzled by the two families rule, backed by the Congress. There is no development in Jammu and Kashmir. Where these funds have gone? The BJP will hold an inquiry into the misappropriation of funds and I’m sure this was going to be one of the biggest ever scam in history of India,’’ Amit Shah declared amidst thunderous applause from thousands of people, who waited him for hours together to listen to him at both Ramban and Banihal.
In a direct attack on Chief Minister and National Conference president Omar Abdullah, Shah wondered whether this money had reached London, where Omar used to visit for several months to spend `summer vacations’. He announced that the BJP would probe the “embezzlement of funds’’ and hold the guilty responsible after coming to power.
“Two families have looted the State by indulging in massive corruption. There has been no example in the history of country about such a big scandal of loot. This scandal didn’t come to the fore as both the parties (of family raj) tried to save each other when they were in power with the backing of Congress. BJP will get the inquiry done and establish the culprits,’’ Shah said.
Calling upon the people to throw out the two party `family raj’ in the State (NC and PDP), the BJP president said the Congress has also ruled the State by one time backing the PDP and another time the NC. He called upon the people to bring nationalist Government of BJP to power in the State, which will make Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of India.
He urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to hand over the future of Jammu and Kashmir to Narendra Modi and the BJP and then see the results of development, which other BJP ruled States have been witnessing.
“There are no roads, electricity, water, power, medicines and hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP will make it a model State, where the people even in the remotest parts will get each and every facility. We are determined and committed to provide corruption free Government after riding the State from `corrupt rule’ of the two families,’’ the BJP national president said, adding the youth of Jammu and Kashmir has been deprived of the benefits of employment and development and the BJP will ensure that they get the opportunities like other parts of developed States of the country.
“We will provide medical facilities, hospitals, roads, electricity and water to every remote part of the State,’’ he said.
Asserting that `Mission 44+’ launched by the BJP is not just a slogan, Amit Shah said the BJP is going to achieve the target and was determined to form first ever Government in Jammu and Kashmir to provide people of the State the “efficient and corruption free Government’’, which will work for the people and their development. He called upon the people not to repeat mistake of voting the `family raj’ parties and their supporter, the Congress and give clear mandate to the BJP if they want to see results of development in their State.
Charging the State Governments with giving “step motherly treatment’’ to Jammu, the BJP chief said the BJP will treat all three regions of the State equally.
“During past 60 years, Jammu has been given step motherly treatment but we will do justice to all three regions,’’ he added.
He alleged that Congress led UPA government “was involved in scams worth Rs 12.5 lakh crore’.
“Sonia Gandhi wants to know about our performance of the past five months. We ask her what they have done in the past 60 years. They have to their credit scams like 2G, helicopter scam, Air India scam, Coal scam, Submarine scam, Aadarsh scam and what not,” he said.
Targeting former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Shah said, “When ‘Mauni baba’ used to visit Japan, Australia or the US, nobody showed any warmth, but now when Narendra Modi is visiting, the heads of these countries are giving a red carpet welcome to him,” he said, adding this was a moment of pride for not just Modi but for 125 crores people of India.
Shah said within five months of BJP Government, inflation has been reduced 12 times than what it was during the UPA regime.
Meanwhile, addressing another massive rally at Polo Ground, Leh in favour of BJP candidate Chering Dorjey, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh declared that the BJP would provide good governance and was contesting the Assembly elections on the plank of providing corruption free and development oriented Government.
Rajnath, who had yesterday also addressed two rallies for BJP candidates at Paddar (Kishtwar) and Bhaderwah, approved the demand for people of Ladakh for granting Union Territory status to Ladakh, including of Bhoti language in 8th schedule of Indian Constitution, Dean University status to CIBS, Scheduled Tribe status to Ladakh region, 12.5 per cent allowance to State Government employees at par with Centre, airfare concession on North East pattern, speedy construction of Zojila tunnel and Neemo-Padum-Darcha road.
However, he said, he can’t make an announcement on these issues as Model Code of Conduct was in-force in the State. He added that all these demands will be discussed whenever BJP MP from Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang visit New Delhi after the elections.
“All these issues will be discussed at the Centre with the concerned Ministers,’’ Rajnath said.
The Union Home Minister said that repeated incursions by Chinese troops into its territory “do not augur well” for maintaining cordial bilateral ties and accused China of illegally occupying Aksai Chin.
He said that several development schemes could not be implemented in the region due to Article 370 and urged people to vote for BJP which promises to implement the 73rd Amendment in the State.
“China has illegally occupied Aksai Chin and incursions by Chinese troops does not augur well in maintaining cordial relations with our neighbour,” he said, adding that New Delhi wants to maintain good relations with its neighbours but its gesture should be reciprocated.
Singh said relations between the two countries could touch new heights if there is a “positive action and resolution of complicated issues like border dispute”.
He said Pakistan “gifted away” Aksai Chin area to China and the previous National Conference-led State Government never cared, as for it and the UPA Government Ladakh was nothing more than a “cold desert”.
China never shared its boundary in Jammu and Kashmir with India at the time of independence of the country and because of the wrong policies of Congress Government the country has become India’s neighbour, he said, adding that Tibet acted as a ‘buffer state’ between the two nations.
The Home Minister said his party considers J&K and Ladakh “close to its heart” and took a dig at Congress saying India lost precious territory to China only because of wrong policies of the previous UPA Government.
Singh said several schemes could not be implemented in the region because of Article 370 and that Ladakh was neglected by successive PDP and NC Governments in the State.
“There are certain parties which raise the issue of Article 370 during elections as they want to create a sense of fear among certain voters. Those parties should discuss the issues of governance and development in the State,” he said.
The Minister said the 73rd Amendment, giving financial power to grassroots-level bodies, could not be implemented by the NC Government.
“The Centre cannot implement it directly in the State due to Article 370. Therefore, vote for BJP which is willing to implement the 73rd Amendment in the State,” Singh said.
On Article 370, the Minister said it is a national issue and there should be extensive debate over its utility.
Singh pitched for strengthening trade relations between India and China, saying the two nations share good trade ties with total trade crossing USD 65 billion.
It can be enhanced to USD 100 billion if the two countries strengthen its ties through mutual respect and trust. “New trade routes could be opened and even the old Silk Route could be revived,” he said.
Singh said Ladakh can emerge as an attractive global tourist destination if the area is developed keeping this vision in mind. It can also become an important centre for Buddhist and other Oriental learnings.
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